In July 2019 Local 683 set out to address the teacher shortage by providing scholarships to District 215 graduates who expressed interest in entering the teaching profession. In November of 2019 Local 683 hosted a trivia night to secure additional funding for scholarships. Local 683 distributed additional scholarships to students who successfully completed District 215's Future Teacher Summer Academy in 2021, 2022, and 2023. In an effort to provide more resources to District 215 students and to continue working collaboratively with the District 215 Administration and Board of Education, the executive board of Local 683 authorized the creation of the IFT Local 683 Education Foundation NFP. 2024 marks the first year the Education Foundation will award scholarships to graduates who complete the Future Teacher Summer Academy on August 1, 2024.