Pennsylvania lawmakers introduce bills to address teacher shortage

Pennsylvania state lawmakers are introducing legislation to alleviate the state’s teacher shortage.The legislative package, known as Elevating Educators, was unveiled at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Monday morning.State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, said the numbers show that since 2010, the number of teachers certified annually in Pennsylvania has fallen from 20,000 a year to less than 7,000.The package includes bills that will:Raise the minimum salary for education professionals from $18,500 to $50,000 initially, and then by an additional $2,500 annually until it reaches $60,000. Create a grant program to support high-need schools in areas that have hard-to-staff teaching positions by recruiting students, paraprofessionals and parents to pursue teaching in their local school district.Create a grant program for colleges to create or expand programs for paraprofessionals to become certified teachers.Create a Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.Create a Teacher Scholarship Program.Create a support/mentor program for first-year teachers in districts with high turnover.Pennsylvania State Education Association president Rich Askey said they need to make the profession more attractive to anyone considering the field."We need to look at scholarship programs. And the other problem is, in other careers, when they're doing the practicum and on-field, they're getting paid. That does not happen in education,” Askey said. "They still have to eat. They still have to have housing. So, we're suggesting that anyone who is student-teaching receives a stipend."

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

Pennsylvania state lawmakers are introducing legislation to alleviate the state’s teacher shortage.

The legislative package, known as Elevating Educators, was unveiled at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Monday morning.

State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, said the numbers show that since 2010, the number of teachers certified annually in Pennsylvania has fallen from 20,000 a year to less than 7,000.

The package includes bills that will:

Raise the minimum salary for education professionals from $18,500 to $50,000 initially, and then by an additional $2,500 annually until it reaches $60,000.
Create a grant program to support high-need schools in areas that have hard-to-staff teaching positions by recruiting students, paraprofessionals and parents to pursue teaching in their local school district.
Create a grant program for colleges to create or expand programs for paraprofessionals to become certified teachers.
Create a Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
Create a Teacher Scholarship Program.
Create a support/mentor program for first-year teachers in districts with high turnover.

Pennsylvania State Education Association president Rich Askey said they need to make the profession more attractive to anyone considering the field.

"We need to look at scholarship programs. And the other problem is, in other careers, when they're doing the practicum and on-field, they're getting paid. That does not happen in education,” Askey said. "They still have to eat. They still have to have housing. So, we're suggesting that anyone who is student-teaching receives a stipend."