D303 Approves Pay Increase For Substitute Teachers

ST. CHARLES, IL — The St. Charles District 303 school board voted in favor of an increase in pay for substitute teachers.

The move, school officials say, is to keep District 303's rates competitive with neighboring school districts in Kane County. The vote in favor of the pay hike Tuesday means District 303 will increase its full day rate for substitute teachers from $140 to $160 for those who've been with D303 for more than 31 days. The half-day rate will increase from $60 to $72.50.

The retired substitute rates will see a steeper hike, jumping from $140 to $200 for a full-day rate and from $60 to $100 for half-day rates. Full day support staff has been paid $100.40 but will now get $120, according to District 303 documents.

Amid ongoing issues in hiring substitute teachers, school districts across the state and nation have been increasing substitute teacher pay. A 2021 Illinois Educator Shortage Study conducted by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools found that 96 percent of schools surveyed thought they had a substitute teacher shortage problem and 90 percent of schools reported that problem was only getting worse.

The substitute teacher shortages are expected to continue to be problem for the 2023-2024 school year in 96 percent of districts responding to the survey. The survey received responses from school leaders at 663 districts, which represents 78 percent of public schools in the state.

According to the survey, shortages have lead to superintendents in districts pulling teachers from their class preparation time to cover for teacher absences elsewhere in the school and to deal with the substitute teacher shortage. Administrators also frequently reported substituting themselves in classrooms and moving students to other classrooms, according to the survey.

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