Lynne Schefke News Today

A measure that would allow retired teachers to return to work in Chicago Public Schools is under consideration in the Illinois legislature. A similar bill for the rest of the state passed last year.

Nearly 90% of Illinois school districts statewide are struggling with an alarming teacher shortage that has reached a crisis level during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials with an organization of regional superintendents said Tuesday.

Even remote learning is not an option for some students at a growing number of suburban schools, where the spike in COVID-19 cases this week has suspended classroom instruction amid a critical statewide shortfall of school employees.