CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The State of Illinois is providing more than $2 million in grants to school districts to help them convince more of their students to consider careers in teaching.
The "Grow Your Own" grants come from the Illinois State Board of Education.
Board employee Dr. Jennifer Kirmes said there are two major reasons why it's important to get more high school students in Illinois to consider careers in education.
"Because there is a teacher shortage in Illinois, and because our teacher workforce in Illinois doesn't represent the diversity that exists in our student body," Kirmes said.
Kirmes said the grants will fund programs to give high school students early training in education, as well as the opportunity to experience teaching first-hand by being mentors or teaching assistants at their schools.
"Really getting hands-on time with students, starting to experience what teaching is like even before they are college age," she said.
The grants are also designed to increase the number of potential teachers available to school districts from their own communities.
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