Week of 8-14-2023

Inside this issue

• PSEA’s legislative prirorities are on track
• Share your back-to-school photos with PSEA
• Upcoming Center for Professional Learning events and PEARL
• Member Benefits spotlight: AmeriServ mortgage and home equity loans

Now that the state budget has passed, PSEA plans to hit the ground running on members’ legislative priorities as soon as the Legislature is back in session. At the top of that priority list is to increase minimum educator salaries to $60,000 and increase minimum wages for education support professionals to $20 per hour. Fortunately, Senate Bill 856, which addresses this issue, was introduced in the state Senate on June 30.

Here is a reminder of our other legislative priorities on which we’ve already seen progress:

• Invest in a statewide scholarship program for aspiring educators
  • House Bill 688 was approved by the state House of Representatives on May 2 and is now awaiting consideration in the state Senate.
• Pay student teachers for the work they do
  • House Bill 1331 was approved by the state House of Representatives on June 22 and is now awaiting consideration in the state Senate.
• Invest in “Grow Your Own” programs that help paraprofessionals and other school support staff go back to college to earn their teaching credentials
  • House Bill 141 was approved by the state House of Representatives on May 1 and is now awaiting consideration in the state Senate.
• Pass COLA legislation for pre-Act 9 retirees
  • House Bills 1415 an 1416 were approved by the state House State Government Committee on June 28.

Thank you for advocating so hard for these issues and getting us this far. As always, we’ll keep you updated with any new developments.

We know you devote so much time and energy to getting your school and classroom ready for the start of the year. Help PSEA showcase your hard work and creativity by sending us pictures of your school or classroom as you prepare to go back to school.

Email your photos to news@psea.org

Click here to flip through our 2022 photo album.

PEARL

Looking for a convenient and flexible way to earn Act 48 credits, Chapter 14 verification, or postgraduate credits? As a PSEA member, you have exclusive access to over 95 courses through PEARL.

Here are just three of the courses you have access to:

• Formative Assessment in Remote Learning
• Understanding Students and Anger
• NEA's Seesaw Basics

Webinars

• Student Performance Measures (SLOs 2.0)
  • Sept. 21, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Toolkit and Resources to Help Early Career Educators
  • Sept. 26, 7-8 p.m.
• Educator Evaluation: Navigating the Policy
  • Oct. 3, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Time to Roll
  
  • Oct. 17, 7-8 p.m.
• The Introverted Educator
  
  • Oct. 26, 7-8 p.m.
• The New Classroom Instruction That Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement, Part 1, Chapters 1-4
  
  • Nov. 8, 7-8 p.m.

Postgraduate Credits

Earn postgraduate credits from PennWest University for $70 each!

More than 150 postgraduate credits are available across a wide range of teaching and learning topics.

These postgraduate credits (microcredentials) can count toward the 24 credits required for a Level II certificate and also may count toward salary advancement.*

For support professionals, these courses may meet Chapter 14 requirements.**

*Check your contract to determine if you can apply standalone postgraduate credits for column movement.
**Seek approval from your employer prior to completing hours to apply toward Chapter 14 requirements.

Looking to buy a house?

Interest rates have been dropping. Now is a great time to start looking for the home of your dreams, whether it be a starter, vacation, or your next home. Enjoy these PSEA exclusive mortgage benefits with our preferred partner, AmeriServ:

• Market leading rates
• No origination fee (savings of $695)
• One FREE rate re-lock opportunity ($400 value)
• $250 credit on interest rate buy-down options

Already own a home? Take advantage of your home’s equity.

AmeriServ offers a home equity product we call Loan in a Line. Use it as a home equity credit line while also having the capability to take out fixed-rate term loans at the same time. Enjoy the flexibility this product offers to do home improvements, debt consolidation, tuition, vacations, or simply to have the peace of mind to know it’s there when you need it. Your benefits include market leading rates, along with waiving annual and other fees. 

Many members took advantage of historic low mortgage interest rates in the past couple of years. Now is a great time to establish a home equity loan and obtain low fixed-rate options. These products and benefits are available to PSEA members and their families (parents, children, and siblings). 

To learn more and to view current rates visit us at www.ameriserv.com/psea