Statewide Data Show Continued Progress Filling Educator Positions Across Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - New statewide data from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the 2026 Unfilled Positions Data Collection show continued progress in addressing educator shortages, with fewer unfilled positions and declining vacancy rates across all major staffing categories.

The statewide teacher vacancy rate decreased by 24%, falling from 2.76% in school year 2024-25 to 2.1% in SY 2025-26. As of Oct. 1, 2025, there were 2,943 total unfilled teacher positions, a notable decrease from 3,864 the previous year. Additional unfilled positions include 167 administrative positions, 2,134 paraprofessionals, and 964 school support personnel.

The statewide progress reflects Illinois' historic $120 million investment in the Teacher Vacancy Grant, now in its third year, which supports locally driven strategies to recruit and retain educators in the 170 school districts with the greatest staffing needs.

"Illinois is making critical investments in public education to recruit more educators and achieve better outcomes for our children - and our historic efforts are paying off," said Governor JB Pritzker. "This data highlights persistent declines in teacher vacancies as we continue to strengthen the state's educator workforce and deliver real results for the school districts that need it most."

"These data show that Illinois' targeted investments are making a real difference for our schools and students," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. "Our statewide efforts to invest in the educator workforce are helping districts make progress, particularly in the communities with the greatest need. At the same time, we know there is more work ahead, and it is critical that we sustain and build on these gains."

Findings from the program's second year show substantial impact. Participating districts hired more than 12,400 new teachers and retained nearly 16,000 educators between 2023 and 2025. In addition, more than 2,300 staff members are earning licensure or endorsements in high-need areas, strengthening the long-term educator pipeline.

The Teacher Vacancy Grant allows districts flexibility to address their unique staffing challenges, including investing in educator preparation, professional learning, recruitment efforts, and financial incentives. Early results show that districts across rural, suburban, and urban communities are benefiting from these targeted strategies.

While progress is clear, significant needs remain in high-demand areas. Special education alone accounts for 1,079 unfilled teaching positions, representing roughly one-third of all teaching vacancies statewide. These persistent gaps underscore the need for continued, targeted efforts to expand the pipeline and support educators in the most critical roles.

More detailed findings on the Teacher Vacancy Grant are available through three reports, including a second-year evaluation, addendum, and qualitative analysis of districts showing early success, on ISBE's Teacher Vacancy Grant webpage.

ISBE will continue working with Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly to sustain and build on this progress, ensuring every Illinois student has access to a well-supported, highly qualified educator.

The 2026 Unfilled Positions Public Data Set and the 2026 Unfilled Positions dashboard are available on ISBE's Educator Workforce Insights webpage. ​