For Immediate Release September 1, 2026 |
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ISBE Awards Fiscal Year 2027 Teacher Vacancy Grants to
100 High-Need School Districts
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Program targets districts representing 77% of statewide teacher vacancies |
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has announced the selection of 100 school districts to receive Teacher Vacancy Grant funding, continuing the state's efforts to address educator shortages in the communities facing the greatest staffing challenges. In Fiscal Year 2027, ISBE is allocating $15 million to support this program.
The FY 2027 Teacher Vacancy Grant cohort was identified using data from ISBE's annual Unfilled Positions Report, with awards focused on eligible districts in Evidence-Based Funding Tiers 1, 2, and 3 that reported the highest numbers of unfilled teaching positions. The selected districts account for approximately 77% of all reported teacher vacancies statewide while representing only 12% of Illinois Local Education Agencies. "Illinois is ensuring students have access to excellent teachers and strong learning environments," said Governor JB Pritzker. "These grants will help school districts facing the most significant staffing challenges recruit and retain the educators students need to succeed. We remain committed to strengthening the educator pipeline and supporting schools across our state."
The Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program is effectively reducing persistent educator shortages in rural and urban school districts through targeted investments in recruitment, retention, and professional learning. During the program's first two years, 15,988 educators received support through grant-funded initiatives, while 1,135 certified staff received assistance to earn endorsements in high-need subject areas, strengthening the pipeline of qualified educators for hard-to-fill positions.
These investments have coincided with measurable improvements. Among participating districts, teacher vacancies declined from 2,858 in FY23 to 2,060 in FY26, a 28% reduction, while the teacher vacancy rate fell from 4.6% to 3.2%. This data affirms the preliminary findings of the independent evaluation of the program conducted by the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative.
"Every student deserves access to qualified, effective educators, regardless of where they live," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. "I am grateful to Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly for their continued commitment to addressing teacher shortages through the Teacher Vacancy Grant Program. By investing in districts with the greatest staffing needs, this program helps direct resources where they can have the greatest impact, strengthening local educator workforces and ensuring more students have access to the excellent teachers they deserve."
Since the Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot was created in 2023, $120 million has been directed toward school districts. The grants support local efforts to recruit, prepare, and retain educators through innovative staffing strategies and partnerships tailored to community needs.
The FY 2027 cohort includes both returning participants and districts newly identified through the updated methodology. Of the 100 funded districts, 68 participated in the original pilot program and 32 are new to Teacher Vacancy Grant funding.
ISBE identified eligible districts by analyzing unfilled full-time equivalent teaching positions and applying the program's established eligibility criteria, including Evidence-Based Funding tier status and geographic considerations.
Districts have used the funding in a variety of ways tailored to local needs, including signing bonuses and retention stipends, tuition reimbursement and professional learning opportunities, mentorship programs for new teachers, special education teacher incentives, classroom technology and resources, and initiatives designed to strengthen school culture and educator support.
Districts will receive notification and grant materials following finalization of award determinations and allocations. FY2027 Teacher Vacancy Grant Awards, by School District and County |
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| District Name | Teacher Vacancy Grant Award For FY2027 | County |
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| Alton CUSD 11 | $198,402 | Madison | | Aurora East USD 131 | $188,393 | Kane | | Aurora West USD 129 | $95,028 | Kane | | Beach Park CCSD 3 | $183,055 | Lake | | Beardstown CUSD 15 | $175,047 | Cass | | Belle Valley SD 119 | $91,692 | Saint Clair | | Bellwood SD 88 | $201,739 | Cook | | Berwyn North SD 98 | $95,028 | Cook | | Bismarck Henning CUSD | $58,346 | Vermilion | | Bluford Unit School District 318 | $58,346 | Jefferson | | Brown County CUSD 1 | $85,019 | Brown | | Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170 | $98,365 | McDonough | | Cahokia CUSD 187 | $268,468 | Saint Clair | | Calhoun CUSD 40 | $58,346 | Calhoun | | Calumet City SD 155 | $98,365 | Cook | | Central CUSD 3 | $88,355 | Adams | | Central CUSD 4 | $91,692 | Iroquois | | Cerro Gordo CUSD 100 | $56,678 | Piatt | | Champaign CUSD 4 | $301,833 | Champaign | | Chicago Public Schools District 299 | $2,367,107 | Cook | | Cissna Park CUSD 6 | $58,346 | Iroquois | | Clay City CUSD 10 | $61,649 | Clay | | Cook County SD 130 | $88,355 | Cook | | Country Club Hills SD 160 | $161,701 | Cook | | Crete-Monee CUSD 201U | $58,346 | Will | | Crystal Lake CCSD 47 | $91,692 | McHenry | | CUSD 3 Fulton County | $58,346 | Fulton | | CUSD 300 | $193,064 | Kane | | CUSD 4 | $85,019 | Adams | | Dakota CUSD 201 | $88,355 | Stephenson | | Dallas ESD 327 | $61,682 | Hancock | | Danville CCSD 118 | $231,767 | Vermilion | | Decatur SD 61 | $431,955 | Macon | | DeKalb CUSD 428 | $98,365 | Dekalb | | DePue USD 103 | $58,346 | Bureau | | Dixon USD 170 | $85,019 | Lee | | Dolton SD 148 | $185,056 | Cook | | Dolton SD 149 | $178,384 | Cook | | Dunlap CUSD 323 | $97,430 | Peoria | | Eldorado CUSD 4 | $58,346 | Saline | | Galesburg CUSD 205 | $98,365 | Knox | | Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUD 4 | $98,365 | Vermilion | | Hamilton Co CUSD 10 | $91,692 | Hamilton | | Harvard CUSD 50 | $95,028 | McHenry | | Harvey SD 152 | $178,384 | Cook | | Hoopeston Area CUSD 11 | $85,019 | Vermilion | | Hoover-Schrum Memorial SD 157 | $98,365 | Cook | | Iroquois County CUSD 9 | $98,365 | Iroquois | | Jacksonville SD 117 | $205,075 | Morgan | | Jasper CCSD 17 | $58,346 | Wayne | | Joliet PSD 86 | $198,402 | Will | | Kewanee CUSD 229 | $58,346 | Henry | | Knoxville CUSD 202 | $58,346 | Knox | | Lansing SD 158 | $91,692 | Cook | | Lawrence County CUD 20 | $171,711 | Lawrence | | Lincoln ESD 27 | $85,019 | Logan | | Marengo-Union E Cons D 165 | $58,346 | McHenry | | Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview 89 | $188,393 | Cook | | Monmouth-Roseville CUSD 238 | $58,346 | Warren | | Morrison CUSD 6 | $58,346 | Whiteside | | Nokomis CUSD 22 | $90,024 | Montgomery | | North Chicago SD 187 | $171,711 | Lake | | North Greene CUSD 3 | $181,720 | Greene | | North Mac CUSD 34 | $61,682 | Macoupin | | Oakwood CUSD 76 | $91,692 | Vermilion | | Oblong CUSD 4 | $61,682 | Crawford | | Odin PSD 722 | $58,346 | Marion | | Ottawa ESD 141 | $91,692 | La Salle | | Pana CUSD 8 | $58,346 | Christian | | Paxton-Buckley-Loda CUD 10 | $58,346 | Ford | | Peoria SD 150 | $208,412 | Peoria | | Pikeland CUSD 10 | $190,061 | Pike | | Pleasant Hill CUSD 3 | $91,692 | Pike | | Posen-Robbins ESD 143-5 | $181,720 | Cook | | Prairie-Hills ESD 144 | $255,122 | Cook | | Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD3 | $61,682 | Whiteside | | Quincy SD 172 | $188,393 | Adams | | Rantoul City SD 137 | $61,682 | Champaign | | Rantoul Township HSD 193 | $61,682 | Champaign | | Red Hill CUSD 10 | $58,346 | Lawrence | | Riverton CUSD 14 | $91,692 | Sangamon | | Rochelle CCSD 231 | $88,355 | Ogle | | Rockford SD 205 | $425,950 | Winnebago | | Rossville-Alvin CUSD 7 | $91,692 | Vermilion | | Schiller Park SD 81 | $86,687 | Cook | | SD U-46 | $406,598 | Kane | | South Holland SD 150 | $165,038 | Cook | | Springfield SD 186 | $168,374 | Sangamon | | Taylorville CUSD 3 | $58,346 | Christian | | Thompsonville CUSD 174 | $58,346 | Franklin | | Triopia CUSD 27 | $61,682 | Morgan | | Urbana SD 116 | $268,468 | Champaign | | Valley View CUSD 365U | $161,701 | Will | | W Harvey-Dixmoor PSD 147 | $181,720 | Cook | | Waukegan CUSD 60 | $345,040 | Lake | | West Chicago ESD 33 | $165,038 | DuPage | | Western CUSD 12 | $88,355 | Pike | | Westville CUSD 2 | $98,365 | Vermilion | | Winchester CUSD 1 | $91,692 | Scott | | Zion ESD 6 | $88,355 | Lake |
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# # # FOR MORE INFORMATION: Alex Mayster Phone: 217-685-3585 Email: press@isbe.net |
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The mission of the Illinois State Board of Education is to provide each and every child with safe and healthy learning conditions, great educators, and equitable opportunities by practicing data-informed stewardship of resources and policy development, all done in partnership with educators, families, and stakeholders.
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