Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage crisis continues to threaten our students’ futures, along with the future wellbeing and prosperity of our commonwealth. If we want our kids to be equipped to achieve their dreams and our economy to thrive, it’s simple: PA needs teachers. 
Governor Shapiro recently unveiled his 2025-26 state budget proposal and proposed doubling funding for the student teacher stipend program to $40 million. 
#PANeedsTeachers applauds this increased investment and continues to call for full funding of the student teacher stipend program at $50 to 55 million. We also continue to seek improved access to educator workforce data and analysis and funding for high-quality teacher apprenticeships.
You can help! Take two minutes today to email your elected officials in Harrisburg and encourage them to support bold, comprehensive investments in the educator workforce in next year’s budget proposal and final budget. Our children can’t wait: together, we can address the root causes of teacher shortages in our commonwealth and build the excellent and diverse teacher workforce that every Pennsylvania student deserves.&nbsp;

Tell Your Elected Officials to Fully Fund Student Teacher Stipends!

Amplify #PANeedsTeachers’ budget request to invest in the educator workforce in the next state budget

As your constituent, I write to ask you to support and fight for continued investments in our teacher workforce in the upcoming state budget. I am concerned that Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage crisis continues to threaten our students’ futures, along with the future wellbeing and prosperity of our commonwealth. 

I'm grateful that you recently proposed to double funding for the student teacher stipend program to $40 million. While increased funding is welcome, the program must be fully funded in order to function as intended as an incentive that all aspiring educators can count on and to ensure that all eligible student teachers can benefit without creating winners and losers. I hope that you will be supportive of efforts to fully fund the student teacher stipend program at $50-55 million in the final budget.

In addition, I hope you will consider the other budget recommendations of the #PANeedsTeachers coalition: 
- Increasing funding for the Apprenticeship Training line item $2 million above what the governor proposed (restoring it to the $12.5 million appropriated last budget), with the $2 million designated specifically for teacher apprenticeships.
- Improving access to educator workforce data and analysis through an investment of $1-5 million and partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Educator and contracted partners such as researchers and universities.

The 2025-26 state budget presents an opportunity to boldly invest in the educator pipeline and workforce. #PANeedsTeachers stands ready to partner with policymakers to develop and enact innovative solutions to our teacher shortage crisis. Our children can’t wait: together, we can address the root causes of teacher shortages in our commonwealth and build the excellent and diverse teacher workforce that every Pennsylvania student deserves.

#PANeedsTeachers Email Action Page Spring 2025

Teach Plus

As your constituent, I write to ask you to support and advocate for continued investments in our teacher workforce in the upcoming state budget. I am concerned that Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage crisis continues to threaten our students’ futures, along with the future wellbeing and prosperity of our commonwealth. 

Governor Shapiro recently proposed to double funding for the student teacher stipend program to $40 million. While increased funding is welcome, the program must be fully funded in order to function as intended as an incentive that all aspiring educators can count on and to ensure that all eligible student teachers can benefit without creating winners and losers. I urge you to advocate for full funding of the student teacher stipend program, estimated at $50-55 million, and to share your support of this priority with your leadership. 

In addition, I hope you will consider the other budget recommendations of the #PANeedsTeachers coalition: 
- Increasing funding for the Apprenticeship Training line item $2 million above what the governor proposed (restoring it to the $12.5 million appropriated last budget), with the $2 million designated specifically for teacher apprenticeships.
- Improving access to educator workforce data and analysis through an investment of $1-5 million and partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Educator and contracted partners such as researchers and universities.

The 2025-26 state budget presents an opportunity to boldly invest in the educator pipeline and workforce. #PANeedsTeachers stands ready to partner with policymakers to develop and enact innovative solutions to our teacher shortage crisis. Our children can’t wait: together, we can address the root causes of teacher shortages in our commonwealth and build the excellent and diverse teacher workforce that every Pennsylvania student deserves.