IL HR0062

Urges the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to expand partnerships with additional countries for the Visiting International Teachers Program to help fill teaching vacancies

Over 4,000 teaching positions in Illinois remained unfilled as of October 2023, with more than 90% of schools reporting teacher shortage issues in the 2023-2024 school year

ISBE currently partners with only four countries (Spain, Mexico, Morocco, and Poland) for international teacher recruitment, while other states also work with Taiwan, Germany, and France

Visiting international teachers must have at least two years of teaching experience and commit to teaching in Illinois for one to three years initially, with possible extension up to five years on a J-1 visa

The program aims to promote multicultural understanding, connect Illinois students and communities with other countries, and support bilingual education