Yingling Supports Teachers, Backs New Law to Increase Minimum Teacher Salary

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – To provide teachers with fair wages, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, backed House Bill 2078 to raise the minimum salary for teachers across Illinois. The legislation includes yearly increases in the minimum salary for teachers over the next four years to $40,000 in 2023.

“With all of the incredible work that teachers put into helping our children, they deserve to be compensated fairly,” said Yingling. “Teachers are some of the hardest-working and important professionals in our state, and I am proud to have supported this legislation to make sure that they are being treated as such.”

Since entering the General Assembly, Yingling has been a fierce advocate for teachers. Recently, Yingling voted for legislation to increase accessibility for those looking to become school paraprofessionals so teachers have more support in the classroom. Yingling helped pass a bipartisan, balanced budget that provides local schools, teachers and students hundreds of millions of dollars in additional school funding, early childhood education, and career and technical education.

“When it comes to our children and their education, there is no room to cut corners,” said Yingling. “Paying teachers what they deserve is essential for them to continue doing the best that they can in the classroom. Thank you to all the teachers who devote their lives to making sure our next generation is as bright and knowledgeable as possible.”

House Bill 2078 has been signed by the governor and will take effect during the 2020-2021 school year.