SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a measure that would allow short-term teachers to take family and medical leave.

“Illinois has been tackling the ongoing teacher shortage for years – and this is another step in the right direction,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “We should be encouraging people to become educators, not holding them back.”

Senate Bill 1584 would permit the Illinois State Board of Education to make rules allowing for extensions to short-term approval licenses if the licensee has taken leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act during the time they were licensed under short-term approval.

Feigenholtz’s measure comes in response to a local resident who took FMLA leave during her pregnancy when she was a short-term approval teacher. The initiative seeks to allow an extension to expiration date for a short-term approval license if a teacher has taken FMLA leave while having short-term approval.

“By allowing short-term teachers to take FMLA, we are removing the unnecessary hurdles that drive people away from becoming a teacher,” said Feigenholtz. “This is a necessary step to help get more teachers in the classroom.”

Senate Bill 1584 passed the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.