Illinois education officials said they are making strides in decreasing the number of vacant positions within schools.
Maskot/Getty Images
Illinois education officials have said they are making strides in decreasing the number of vacant positions within the education system.
The Illinois State Board of Education released a database that tracks the number of vacant positions statewide, by county, district and type of position. The current data set comes from numbers reported in October.
Article continues below this ad
In Jacksonville, the district has 24 unfilled teaching positions, but is fully staffed in administrative, paraprofessional and support personnel roles as of October.
Superintendent Steve Ptacek said that number is about right, but can change throughout the year as staff are hired or leave.
“We present a list of vacancies at the start of every board meeting,” Ptacek said. “We hire and lose people throughout the year, but we are about there now.”
According to the board, there were 2,943 unfilled positions across the state as of Oct. 1, down from 3,864 in October 2024.
Article continues below this ad
Of the 2,943 vacant positions, 1,079 were for special education positions.
There were also 167 administrative positions, 2,134 paraprofessionals and 964 school support personnel vacancies in October 2025.
During the March 18 board meeting, the district reported 22 vacancies. Of those, 14 were for special education positions, three for science teachers, one pre-kindergarten teacher, one elementary teacher, one Title I teacher teacher, one physical education teacher and one English learner teacher.
Ptacek said districts and the state have been working to become appealing to teachers through improved benefits or easier access to education and licensing.
Article continues below this ad
“We have increased our pay, which has made us more attractive to potential employees,” Ptacek said. “We’ve also been using the Teacher Vacancy Grant to help our paraprofessionals and substitutes go back for their teaching certification. We are doing what we can.”
State Superintendent Tony Sanders said the state has been investing in education to better serve the schools and students they serve.
For the past three years, the state has funded the grant that helps boost local recruitment strategies. The state has allocated $120 million for the grant and so far 170 school districts have received funds through the grant.
“These data show that Illinois’ targeted investments are making a real difference for our schools and students,” Sanders said. “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.”
Article continues below this ad
Vacancies in west-central Illinois schools, as of October, include:
Six teaching positions and one paraprofessional position.
Article continues below this ad
A-C Central: Eight — five teaching, two paraprofessionals, and one administrative.
Beardstown: 15 teaching positions.
Virginia: Two teaching positions.
Article continues below this ad
Carrollton: Three teaching and two paraprofessional positions.
Greenfield: One teaching position.
North Greene: 17 teaching and two support personnel positions.
Article continues below this ad
Franklin: Two teaching positions.
Meredosia-Chambersburg: One teaching position.
Triopia: Five teaching and one paraprofessional positions.
Waverly: Three teaching and one support personnel positions.
Article continues below this ad
Griggsville-Perry: One teaching and two support personnel positions.
Pikeland: 19 teaching positions.
Article continues below this ad
Scott-Morgan: Two teaching positions.
Winchester: Eight teaching positions.