Legislative Tracker: Overview of Laws Passed in Midwest to Address Teacher Shortages (2023)
December 21, 2023
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Across the 11-state Midwest, legislatures considered bills in 2023 that aim to address teacher shortages. The table on this page lists legislation signed into law over the past year. Among the policies being pursued under these new laws:
- changes to teacher licensure requirements;
- alternative pathways to licensure;
- new financial assistance for new and veteran teachers, and;
- modifications in the requirements for substitute teachers
CSG Midwest is tracking teacher-shortage measures in state legislatures as part of its support of the Midwestern Legislative Conference Education and Workforce Development Committee. It will continue to do so throughout the biennium.
The goal of this tracker is to identify and list all relevant new laws. If you believe a new law from 2023 should be added to this tracker, please contact Derek Cantù, CSG Midwest’s lead staff person for the Midwestern Legislative Conference Education & Workforce Development Committee.
See related legislative tracker of teacher shortage initiatives introduced and/or enacted during the 2023-2024 legislative session.
| State | Bill Number | Description | Primary Sponsor | Date Introduced | Last Action | Last Action Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | HB 2147 | Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Teacher Article: provides that through June 30, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2023), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year; deletes language concerning an additional 20 days or 100 paid hours that an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status for the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022; and provides that a person may receive optional credit for certain periods of service as a student teacher. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act (Article 20) of the Code. In the definition of "pension credit", provides that the one-year limitation does not apply to persons who acquire credit as a substitute teacher covered under the Downstate Teacher Article and reach retirement eligibility under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately. | Rep. Janet Yang Rohr | 02/06/23 | Public Act | 08/11/2023 |
| Illinois | SB 1488 | Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning educator testing, removes the provision that requires the teacher performance assessment to be approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Provides instead that each teacher preparation program in this State may use any evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness that aligns to current State teaching standards. Effective July 1, 2023. | Sen. Tom Bennett | 02/07/23 | Public Act | 08/04/2023 |
| Illinois | HB 3498 | Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With regard to the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, and special education teacher scholarships, provides that if a recipient of one of those scholarships who is in a repayment plan with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission subsequently teaches at a school meeting certain descriptions under those scholarship programs, the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed. Effective immediately. | Rep. Michele Mussman | 02/17/23 | Public Act | 08/04/2023 |
| Illinois | SB 2243 | Amends the School Code. Provides that, in consultation with education stakeholders, the State Board of Education shall develop and adopt a comprehensive literacy plan for the State on or before October 1, 2023. Effective immediately. | Sen. Kimberly Lightford | 02/10/23 | Public Act | 07/28/2023 |
| Illinois | HB 3442 | Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning Substitute Teaching Licenses, provides that if there is no licensed teacher under contract because of an emergency situation, then a district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the district if the district notifies the appropriate regional office of education within 5 business days after the employment of the substitute teacher in that vacant position (instead of employment of the substitute teacher in the emergency situation). Provides that a district may continue to employ that same substitute teacher in that same vacant position for one or more additional 30 calendar day periods if, prior to the expiration of the then-current 30 calendar day period, the district files a written request with the appropriate regional office of education for a 30 calendar day extension on the basis that the position remains vacant and the district continues to actively seek qualified candidates. Provides that each extension request shall be deemed granted unless denied in writing by the regional office of education. Provides that an emergency situation is one in which a vacancy has occurred (instead of an unforeseen vacancy has occurred) and (i) a teacher is unexpectedly unable to fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications or vacancies are unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates, and the district is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the vacant position (instead of (i) a teacher is unable to fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications, and the district is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the vacant position). | Rep. Fred Crespo | 02/17/23 | Public Act | 06/30/2023 |
| Illinois | SB 1468 | Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that during the period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026, an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 150 paid days or 750 paid hours in each school year. Provides that beginning July 1, 2026 (instead of July 1, 2023), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 100 paid days or 500 paid hours in each school year. Effective immediately. | Sen. Tom Bennett | 02/07/23 | Public Act | 06/09/2023 |
| Nebraska | LB 705 | LB 705 would change statutes relating to lottery fund distribution, create funds, adopt the Behavioral Intervention Training and Teacher Support Act, establish a mental health training grant program, provide duties to the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education and the Nebraska Department of Education, change provisions related to the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund, transfer and chance provisions of the Excellence in Teaching Act, adopt the Door to College Scholarship Act, repeal the Master Teacher Program Act, and appeal several sections. If adopted as introduced, funds would be distributed as follows: Nebraska Opportunity Grant Act: $15,185,406, 62.00% Community College Gap Assistance Program Fund: $1,714,481, 7.00% Door to College Scholarship: $244,926, 1.00% Career Readiness and Dual Credit $489,852, 2.00% Competitive Innovation Grant $4,163,740, 17.00% Mental Health Training: $367,389, 1.50% Behavioral Training Cash Fund: $2,326,796, 9.50% | Sen. Dave Murman | 01/18/23 | Public Act | 06/01/2023 |
| Minnesota | HF 2497 | Education finance bill. | Rep. Cheryl Youakim | 03/02/23 | Public Act | 05/24/2023 |
| Minnesota | HF 2073 | Higher education finance and policy bill. | Rep. Gene Pelowski | 02/20/23 | Public Act | 05/24/2023 |
| Minnesota | HF 2292 | Early learning scholarships, Head Start, and early education programs modified; early childhood educator programs provided; reports required; and money appropriated. Early learning scholarships, Head Start, and early education programs modified; early childhood educator programs provided; reports required; and money appropriated. | Rep. Dave Pinto | 02/28/23 | Public Act | 05/24/2023 |
| North Dakota | SB 2284 | AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-21 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to permitting private tutors on public school premises; to amend and reenact section 15.1-07-26, subsection 8 of section 15.1-15-02, subsections 2 and 6 of section 15.1-19-10, section 15.1-27-03.1, subsection 4 of section 15.1-27-03.2, section 15.1-27-04.1, and subsection 5 of section 15.1-36-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to school district enrollment, the definition of "probationary teacher", a school district's policy governing possession of a weapon, the definition of "dangerous weapon", modification of weighting factors, transition maximums and an increase in per student payments, and the school construction revolving loan fund; to provide for a legislative management study; to provide a legislative management report; to provide an appropriation; to provide for an exemption; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date. AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-21 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to permitting private tutors on public school premises; to amend and reenact section 15.1-07-26, subsection 8 of section 15.1-15-02, subsections 2 and 6 of section 15.1-19-10, section 15.1-27-03.1, subsection 4 of section 15.1-27-03.2, section 15.1-27-04.1, and subsection 5 of section 15.1-36-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to school district enrollment, the definition of "probationary teacher", a school district's policy governing possession of a weapon, the definition of "dangerous weapon", modification of weighting factors, transition maximums and an increase in per student payments, and the school construction revolving loan fund; to provide for a legislative management study; to provide a legislative management report; to provide an appropriation; to provide for an exemption; to provide for a transfer; and to provide an effective date. | Sen. Donald "Don" Schaible | 01/16/23 | Public Act | 05/18/2023 |
| North Dakota | HB 1231 | AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 15.1-02-04, 15.1-13-35.1, and 15.1-32-26 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of a dyslexia and literacy task force, reading instruction competency for teacher licensure, and the dyslexia screening and intervention program; to repeal section 15.1-32-25 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to mandatory dyslexia screening; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide an expiration date. AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 15.1-02-04, 15.1-13-35.1, and 15.1-32-26 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the creation of a dyslexia and literacy task force, reading instruction competency for teacher licensure, and the dyslexia screening and intervention program; to repeal section 15.1-32-25 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to mandatory dyslexia screening; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide an expiration date. | Rep. Michelle Strinden | 01/10/23 | Public Act | 05/18/2023 |
| Indiana | HB 1002 | Establishes the: (1) career scholarship account program (CSA program); (2) career scholarship account program fund (CSA program fund); (3) career scholarship account administration fund; (4) connecting students with careers fund; (5) intermediary capacity building fund; and (6) credential completion grant. Provides that the department of education (department), in consultation with the governor's workforce cabinet (cabinet), shall: (1) designate and approve course sequences, career courses, modern youth apprenticeships, certain apprenticeship programs, and programs of study leading to industry recognized credentials; and (2) determine the grant amount that a career scholarship student may receive under the CSA program fund for each sequence, course, apprenticeship, or program. Establishes eligibility requirements to participate in the CSA program. Provides that the cabinet may approve participating entities that meet certain requirements to participate in the CSA program. Permits approved participating entities that are providing certain training and education experiences to identify and recommend skill competencies to the department. Requires the department to maintain a list on the department's website of skill competencies identified by approved participating entities. Provides that grant amounts that career scholarship students receive are not included in adjusted gross income for tax purposes. Prohibits a school corporation or charter school from receiving a career and technical education grant for a student enrolled in a career and technical education program if the student is enrolled in the CSA program. Provides that a grant to a choice scholarship eligible school does not count towards a student's choice scholarship amount and is not subject to the maximum choice scholarship cap. Beginning July 1, 2024, provides that certain school corporations shall include instruction for all students regarding career awareness. Provides that the state board of education (board), in consultation with the cabinet, shall create certain standards for a career awareness course. Requires the department to collect and aggregate certain data. Requires the board, in consultation with the department, to establish new high school diploma requirements. Removes a provision that provides that a student who satisfies an Indiana diploma with a Core 40 with academic honors designation through a certain alternative course shall not count toward a school's honor designation award. Requires the cabinet to create a list of approved intermediaries, employers, and labor organizations. Requires certain high school and college students to meet with an intermediary, an employer, or a labor organization. Requires certain committed offenders and recipients of unemployment benefits to meet with an intermediary. Specifies exceptions. Allows the recipient of a: (1) higher education award; (2) freedom of choice grant; and (3) scholarship under the twenty-first century scholars program; to apply the award, grant, or scholarship to the cost of training by an approved intermediary, employer, or labor organization instead of the educational costs of a postsecondary educational institution. Allows certain recipients of a scholarship under the twenty-first century scholars program to apply the scholarship to the cost of a course sequence or an apprenticeship provided by a CSA participating entity. Provides that during each school year, a public high school must hold at least one career fair during regular school hours. Repeals and replaces a definition of "participating entity" with "ESA participating entity". | Sen. Chuck Goodrich | 01/12/23 | Public Act | 05/04/2023 |
| Indiana | HB 1637 | Increases the annual scholarship amount, from $7,500 to $10,000, that an applicant can receive as a next generation Hoosier educators scholarship recipient. Increases the annual scholarship amount, from $4,000 to $10,000, that an applicant can receive as a William A. Crawford minority teacher scholarship recipient. Adds requirements that a recipient must maintain for eligibility for the William A. Crawford minority teacher scholarship. Increases the annual scholarship amount, from $4,000 to $5,000, that an applicant can receive as an Earline S. Rogers student teaching scholarship for minority students recipient. Provides that an individual who: (1) received a William A. Crawford minority teacher scholarship; (2) is no longer enrolled in an eligible institution; and (3) did not receive a baccalaureate degree from an eligible institution; shall repay the amount of the scholarship awarded to the individual. Removes the limit on new applicants that may obtain the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship. Makes appropriations. | Rep. Bob Behning | 01/19/23 | Public Act | 05/01/2023 |
| Illinois | HR 62 | Urges the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to support the state goal of increasing the number and diversity of Illinois' educator workforce by collaborating with the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to develop and launch a state-wide teacher recruitment system internally, possibly with the support from an outside vendor, that will be available to the public by July 1, 2024 and will support interested candidates statewide to apply to, enroll in, and complete Illinois' Teacher Preparation Programs and succeed in their eventual job placement. | Rep. Carol Ammons | 02/10/23 | Adopted | 03/28/2023 |