SPRINGFIELD – A new law supported by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel will help continue tackling the teacher shortage school districts across the state are facing.

“Here in Illinois, we are taking strides to address the teacher shortage head on,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “It’s clear that there are issues recruiting and retaining teachers. We have to find the tools and resources to keep quality educators in the profession so our students can be lifelong learners.”

The new law provides retention bonuses of $4,000 per year, for two consecutive years to teachers who are National Board Certified and employed in hard-to-staff schools. A hard-to-staff school is a public school that no less than 30% of the student enrollment is considered low-income. Becoming a National Board Certified teacher is a career continuum for those who start in pre-service teacher preparation, leading aspiring teachers to pursue and achieve National Board Certification.

This measure aims to provide an incentive for teachers to work in underserved areas, as these are the areas that are most affected by the current teacher shortage.

“By investing in our educators, we are helping our students excel in the classroom,” said Loughran Cappel.

House Bill 3801 takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law backed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel will highlight future career opportunities for children with disabilities.

“I spent 15 years in the classroom as a special education teacher and I saw first-hand the importance of planning cohesively with parents and the student,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “It’s crucial to create a plan that paves the way for students with disabilities to succeed.”

Individualized education plans – or IEPs – are plans that describe education instruction, support and services that students with disabilities are entitled to receive. Under the new law, students with IEPs and their parents will be provided information on the school district’s career and technical education and dual credit opportunities.

According to the National School Boards Association’s 2019 analysis, students with disabilities who were in career and technical educational programs had an 89% graduation rate nationwide during the previous school year, which was 20% higher than the overall graduation rate for students with disabilities.

“Career and technical education can give students the training needed to build a meaningful career,” said Loughran Cappel. “I will continue working to ensure children with disabilities have every opportunity.”

House Bill 3224 took effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – The annual pay cap for teachers who mentor or provide professional development for classroom teachers or counselors will be increased under a new law championed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“During the 15 years I spent in the classroom, I relied on my colleagues to make me the best teacher I could be,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Having qualified mentors within each school is important to keep young, new professionals excited and satisfied with their work.”

The new law increases the annual pay cap from $1,500 to $2,250 for teachers with National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designations who mentor or provide professional development for classroom teachers or counselors.

To receive National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation, a teacher must have a bachelor's degree, hold a state license and have at least three years of teaching or counseling experience. The candidate then takes a computer-based assessment and completes three portfolio entries. If the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards deems that a teacher passes all of the components, the teacher receives the designation.

“Many educators will spend over 30 hours a year participating in mentoring and professional development,” said Loughran Cappel. “Providing compensation to the teachers who continuously work to uplift new teachers will encourage them to stay within the profession longer, ultimately benefiting our students the most.”

House Bill 1291 takes effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to expand access to hospice care, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel led a measure that will increase the number of people hospice residences can serve and the number of licensed hospice locations per county, which was signed into law Friday.

“As someone who has cared for loved ones, I know the stress and exhaustion that comes with it,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “It’s a role many of us have taken on because we want our family to have the care they need during their final months. That’s why I worked to expand hospice care so everyone can have access to quality health care.”

The Loughran Cappel law allows hospice programs that own or operate separate hospice residences to serve up to 24 people per location, rather than the current 20 people per location cap. Additionally, the law expands the number of licensed hospice locations per county from five to 16.

“As the shortage of hospice care workers has grown, State Representative Natalie Manley and I worked to expand the number of residents they can care for without creating a burden on hospice care workers,” said Loughran Cappel. “We have to continue working together to address the shortage but this is a step in the right direction to providing the essential health care people deserve.”

House Bill 1117 takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.