Pennsylvania is facing a teacher shortage crisis, threatening both the academic success of current students and the prospects of future generations if we don’t act now.
This crisis doesn’t just impact schools; it affects our broader workforce and Pennsylvania’s economy at large. Fortunately, our state leaders have the tools to address this crisis.
This budget season, we're asking Governor Shapiro and members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to:
FULLY fund the student teacher stipend program: The legislature enacted this program with bipartisan support last year, but the current $10 million will only support 600-750 student teachers. In the first 24 hours alone, over 4,500 student teachers applied for the stipend. A 2024-25 appropriation of $75 million would allow every single student teacher who applies -- all of whom are committing to teach in PA for three years -- to receive funding.
Invest $10 million toward grow-your-own programs: Governor Shapiro proposed $10 million for the Educator Talent Recruitment Account to support grow-your-own programs, teacher apprenticeships, and other promising strategies to create pathways for youth, paraprofessionals, and other community members into teaching. The legislature must include this funding in ithe 2024-25 state budget.
Your voice matters! Join us today and tell Governor Shapiro and your state legislators to move these budget priorities forward!

We Have the Tools to End the Teacher Shortage Crisis - Let's Put Them to Work

Tell PA Legislators to Fully Fund Student Teachers Stipends and Grow-Your-Own Programs This Budget Season

As a constituent who deeply cares about ensuring all students in Pennsylvania receive a quality education, I am very concerned about the teacher shortage crisis impacting our commonwealth. In the past decade, the number of certified teachers produced by Pennsylvania’s education programs has fallen by 75%, and teacher turnover is at an all-time high. We need an estimated 15,000 more qualified teachers to fill current vacancies, replace teachers on emergency permits, and replace teachers who are leaving -- and that doesn't take into account additional demand for qualified teachers that will occur if districts receive proposed historic education funding increases in the wake of the school funding lawsuit.

In order to address this crisis, I'm writing to ask you to support two critical priorities in the 2024-25 state budget:

First, fully fund the student teacher stipend program at $75 million. Student teacher stipends, as passed by the Pennsylvania legislature in 2023, are a critical tool for removing financial barriers for prospective teachers and attracting more aspiring educators to the profession. Since the application launched, there were 4,500 applications submitted by student teachers in the first day, while the current funding only covers 600-750 student teachers. The program can’t achieve its intent of removing financial barriers and incentivizing students to commit to teaching in Pennsylvania unless it is fully funded and recurring. All student teachers deserve to be paid. $75 million in recurring funding to fully fund student teacher stipends must be included in the final 2024-25 state budget.

Second, invest $10 million into the Educator Talent Recruitment Account to fund grow-your-own programs. Grow-your-own programs, which create affordable pathways into teaching for high school students, paraprofessionals, and community members, are another critical tool to solve the teacher shortage crisis.  An investment of $10 million in the 2024-25 state budget for grow-your-own programs, as proposed by Governor Shapiro, would enable us to leverage local talent and rebuild our educator pipeline from the ground up.

Thank you for your consideration of these critical investments. With your support and leadership, we can end the teacher shortage crisis, strengthen our education system, and build a thriving economy and workforce in Pennsylvania.

Fix the Teacher Shortage Crisis