An education proposal authored by State Senator Patrick Joyce was recently signed into law by Governor J.B. Prizker.  

Joyce said that the current teacher shortage in Illinois is a crisis, and that this new law offers strategies to reverse the trend. As school districts return to in-person learning this fallthe  law will grant retired teachers the ability to substitute teach for more hours without impairing their retirement status.

Currently, Illinois law allows retired teachers to substitute teach for up to 120 days or 600 hours without jeopardizing their retirement status.

Because retired teachers often return to work as substitute teachers, Joyce’s initiative would create a yearly, rather than lifetime limit: Retired teachers could substitute teach for 100 days or 500 hours each school year beginning July 1, 2023. 

The legislation – Senate Bill 1989 – was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.