Teachers and future teachers could soon have an easier path to expand the number of subjects they can teach under legislation led by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz.
“Teachers shouldn’t have to sacrifice their careers when family or medical obligations arise,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “We need to make sure the steps we’re taking to address the teacher shortage actually help teachers instead of hinder them.”
Senate Bill 1584 would permit the Illinois State Board of Education to make rules allowing for extensions to short-term approval teacher licenses if the licensee has taken leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act during the time they were licensed under short-term approval, which typically only lasts three years.
Feigenholtz’s measure comes in response to a local resident who took FMLA leave during her pregnancy when she was licensed under short-term approval. For many educators, including Feigenholtz’s constituent, short-term approval in a new subject area is a path to becoming a more versatile teacher who can teach more classes.
“The goal of this bill is to stop the clock when someone is on FMLA leave so they can pick up right where they left off without losing any of their short-term approval period,” said Feigenholtz. “I look forward to removing this barrier so teachers’ time in the classroom is spent focusing on students – not worrying about how state rules will affect their licenses.”
Senate Bill 1584 passed the Senate Wednesday.
