McLean County Times

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee recently approved a measure that would make it easier for educators to have their teaching licenses reinstated.

“We have a teacher shortage in Illinois,” Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur), who sponsored the measure, said on his website. “The state is currently discouraging retired educators by charging individuals a $500 penalty to return to the classroom. The state should not be in the business of penalizing former teachers that want to come back and help educate our next generation.”

If signed into law, H.B. 4382 would cap the penalty at $10 a month for each month the licenses went unrenewed with a maximum amount that can be charged set at $100 versus the $500 fee that currently exists. 

“The sooner we make it easier for former teachers to return to the classroom, the better off we will be," Caulkins said. “We should encourage experienced educators to return to the classroom rather than penalizing them for allowing their teaching license to lapse.”