DeKalb, Dixon and Rochelle School Districts Receive Teacher Vacancy Grants

SPRINGFIELD – Three school districts in DeKalb, Lee and Ogle counties are set to receive a combined $271,739 through the Illinois State Board of Education’s Fiscal Year 2027 Teacher Vacancy Grant program. DeKalb CUSD 428 will receive $98,365, Dixon USD 170 will receive $85,019 and Rochelle CCSD 231 will receive $88,355. The grants are part of $15 million awarded to 100 school districts across Illinois to address teacher shortages and support efforts to recruit and retain educators. The selected districts were identified using data on unfilled teaching positions, with funding focused on districts in Evidence Based Funding tiers 1, 2 and 3 that reported high numbers of vacancies. The 100 districts receiving grants account for about 77% of reported teacher vacancies statewide. Since the Teacher Vacancy Grant program began in 2023, ISBE said $120 million has been directed to school districts for teacher recruitment, preparation and retention efforts. Of the 100 districts receiving funding for fiscal year 2027, 68 participated in the original program and 32 are new to the grant program.