SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a bill that gives teachers vaccinated against COVID-19 all the sick leave they’d need if the virus hits their families.
“It ensures that, if a teacher has done their part to keep their classroom safe for their most vulnerable students, they won’t have to worry for a second about their pay, or their paid time off, if they get COVID, or if they’re required to isolate,” said Pritzker, during a signing ceremony Tuesday at the State Capitol.
The bill also restores any sick time used because of COVID.
Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of teachers, says the measure could also help address the ongoing teacher shortage.
“We need to get people to want to come in to this profession, to want to go every day in to a class of 20 or 30 kids, and say ‘Good morning,’ and help build those lives and our future. And, right now, we don’t have enough,” said Montgomery.
Unvaccinated school employees don’t get the protections, unless they get vaccinated within the next five weeks.
House Bill 1167 takes effect immediately.
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