SPRINGFIELD – To help eliminate the teacher shortage in Illinois, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) advanced a plan out of the Senate Education Committee to increase the number of days substitute teachers may cover for licensed teachers in the classroom.

 “We need to provide our superintendents with every tool to assist with the ongoing teacher shortage,” Joyce said. “This legislation allows substitutes to stay in the same classroom for longer, giving students more consistency.”

 Currently, Illinois law allows substitute teachers to cover for a licensed teachers for up to 90 days. Joyce’s initiative would increase the amount of days substitute teachers can stay in the classroom to 120. This measure helps keep substitute teachers in the same classroom, instead of having to teach lessons they are less familiar with after 90 days.

 There are currently 4,120 unfilled positions in Illinois schools. This number includes administrative, school support personnel and teaching positions. Find out more information on the teacher shortage from the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.

 Senate Bill 3893 passed the Senate Education Committee and awaits further consideration.  

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) issued the following statement following Gov. JB Pritzker’s Budget Address Wednesday:

“The governor introduced a budget proposal at a critical moment in our state’s history. As we continue our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are faced with many challenges, but this proposal sets forth the priorities to address them while also recognizing the importance of achieving and maintaining fiscal responsibility.

“Our top priority has to be working families and small businesses that have suffered over the past two years. This budget does a number of things that incentivize families through grocery tax freezes, a gas tax suspension and property tax rebates. This budget also sustains our small businesses and protects jobs in our communities.

“This proposed budget is just the beginning of the negotiation process, and I am hopeful we can come together to craft a smart, bipartisan budget that puts our state’s best foot forward.”

SPRINGFIELD –To celebrate Career and Technical Education students across the state, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is leading the charge to establish February 2022 as Career and Technical Education Month.

“Career and Technical Education programs not only provide quality education, but also offer real-world work experience that is invaluable to students,” said Joyce, a chief co-sponsor of Senate Resolution 698. “They play a vital role in setting their students up for success in and out of the classroom, and should be celebrated for their innovative approaches to teaching.”

Career and Technical Education, or CTE, are programs designed to prepare students for careers in major industries, such as finance, health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing and education. Coursework includes both academic and technical materials, allowing many students to use their knowledge from the programs to earn industry-recognized credentials or college credits. This makes careers in these fields much more accessible for many students who may struggle to complete coursework in traditional academic programs.

UNIVERSITY PARK – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has released a grant of more than $600,000 to Riegel Farm for infrastructure improvements, thanks to the efforts of Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex).

“Riegel Farm is an untapped resource in the heart of University Park,” Joyce said. “This investment will provide recreation and education to area residents as well as visitors, which will benefit our community for years to come. I look forward to seeing this project develop in the months ahead.”

The Reigel Farm Revitalization Project offers a truly unique educational and recreational opportunity. This once active farm offers access to softball fields, tennis courts and historic farm buildings, which once served as the home of University Park’s Parks and Recreation Department.

This department previously ran an educational petting zoo and educated area residents about historic farming practices. The community has long since desired the reactivation of this truly one-of-a-kind resource.

Bertino-Tarrant and Joyce fought for funds after several community leaders, including Sonia Jenkins, and Mary Truss brought the need for this project to their attention.

“When I first visited Reigel Farms, I knew instantly why the ladies in the community had such a passion for the property,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “Their vision and enthusiasm made it a must for me to work with Sen. Joyce on this important revitalization for their community.”