Willis-Backed Proposal Increasing Minimum Wage for Teachers Now Law

NORTHLAKE, Ill. – A proposal sponsored by state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, which increases the minimum wage for Illinois teachers, was recently signed into law. 

“By increasing the starting wage for teachers we are giving a boost to our local schools in recruiting and retaining educators,” Willis said. “Quality schools start with quality teachers. This new law will help ensure that teachers in Illinois are compensated fairly for the work they do to help children in our community thrive.”

Willis sponsored House Bill 2078, which sets minimum teacher salaries at $32,076 for the 2020-2021 school year and gradually raises it by about $2,000 every year for four years. The last Illinois law guiding universal teacher pay was passed in 1980.

According to a 2018 study by the Illinois State Board of Education, in over 500 of Illinois’ 898 school districts, new teachers with a bachelor’s degree received starting salaries less than $40,000. Low, uncompetitive salaries for teachers has led to rapid turnover, decreasing the quality of education, increasing class-sizes and creating the teacher shortage Illinois now faces.

“Teachers in Illinois haven’t seen an increase in the minimum wage in over 40 years, they deserve a raise,” Willis said. “By attracting more educators to Illinois schools with higher wages we can address the teacher shortage and reduce class sizes.”