ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – To help end the school social worker shortage, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) introduced legislation that would create scholarships for students working toward an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Social Work.

“Students are facing unprecedented social and emotional challenges, and schools across the state are in the midst of a shortage of social workers,” Gillespie said. “We must address the growing need for professional, culturally competent social workers in our schools.”

The legislation would require the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to award up to 250 Post-Master of Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships each year. Scholarship recipients would be required to work at a public or not-for-profit P-12 school in Illinois for at least two of the five years immediately following their graduation.

Gillespie’s proposal also grants priority to applicants in underrepresented communities in the school social work field.

The legislation, Senate Bill 661, awaits consideration in the Senate High Education Committee.