SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released a request for proposals for $750,000 in state funds to develop teacher residency programs. Teacher residencies increase teacher recruitment and retention by offering a more immersive preparation experience, leading to new educators feeling better prepared on day one in the classroom.  

 

All public and private institutions of higher education with Illinois approved teacher preparation programs may apply. ISBE will prioritize applications that propose to partner with school districts or regional offices of education in rural areas or that propose to focus on preparing teachers in early childhood, bilingual education, or special education – the areas experiencing the highest demand.  

 

“Teacher residencies are a research-backed strategy to increase teacher retention and better support new teachers,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “The first round of grant funding was very successful in bringing new teachers into the profession in high-need areas and in establishing the foundation for lasting, sustainable partnerships between school districts and educator preparation programs. This next round of grant funding will strengthen the teacher pipeline in key areas of focus, benefitting the teacher candidates, their future students, and the entire school community.” 

 

Under Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois has distributed a total of $1.5 million in two previous rounds of Teacher Residency Planning Grants. Chicago Public Schools District 299, Woodstock Community Unit School District 200, and North Chicago School District 187 participated in the first cohort of the Teacher Residency Planning Grant. All three districts have continued offering the teacher residency beyond the expiration of the grant funding. Ninety-three percent of the candidates who have completed their residencies have taken full-time teaching positions with their host districts. The second cohort is underway. 

 

In a residency, the teacher candidate embeds at a school for a full year, shadowing a veteran teacher and taking classes at the school – compared to one semester of student teaching typically offered in teacher preparation program. The residency model also offers veteran teachers a robust mentorship, coaching, and professional advancement opportunity. According to the Learning Policy Institute, “Research suggests that well-designed and well-implemented teacher residency models can create long-term benefits for districts, for schools, and ultimately and most importantly, for the students they serve."   

 

The fiscal year 2022 Teacher Residency Planning Grant will support partnerships between institutions of higher education and school districts or regional offices of education to plan full-year field experiences. Three institutions of higher education will receive a grant and each will be able to partner with multiple school districts or regional offices of education to maximize the number of teacher candidates who can benefit from the program.  

 

Proposals for the third round of Teacher Residency Planning Grants are due Dec. 10, 2021. The request for proposals can be accessed through the IWAS system, and more information about the grant can be found on the Educator Effectiveness Grants webpage​.