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Week of 2-10-2025
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Inside this issue
- Pennsylvanians want U.S. to strengthen public schools, not gut them
- PSEA’s EA and ESP salary maps show who pays what and where
- Higher ed. gets a boost in Shapiro’s budget proposal
- PSEA celebrates Black History Month
- Local Presidents – Be on the lookout for your NEA Representative Assembly (“RA”) delegate form
- NEA Legislative Committee listening sessions on 119th Congress
- Member Benefits spotlight: ACCESS airfare giveaway
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Pennsylvanians want U.S. to strengthen public schools, not gut them
PSEA President Aaron Chapin is sounding the alarm about the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a move that would put Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable students at risk.
With $1.6 billion in federal funding supporting Pennsylvania’s public schools in 2022-23, the stakes couldn’t be higher. These funds provide critical resources, including:
- $578 million for Title I programs serving low-income students
- $428 million for special education services supporting students with disabilities
Ahead of Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing as U.S. Secretary of Education this past Thursday, Chapin called on Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators and representatives to take a stand and be a voice for the most vulnerable students in Pennsylvania and across the nation.
“Students from low-income families living in rural, suburban, and urban communities count on billions in federal investments to support their public education as do students with disabilities and their families,” Chapin said. “They deserve more support, not less. But they and many others will pay the price if the department that distributes and oversees billions in federal funding is dismantled and tossed aside.”
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PSEA’s EA and ESP salary maps show who pays what and where
Increasing salaries and wages for every PSEA member is a top priority. To do that, we need to know what members make across the commonwealth.
Now, this kind of information is available to every PSEA member. At www.psea.org/salarycenter, members can find starting and average EA salaries and minimum and maximum ESP wages in school districts where PSEA has access to this data.
Interactive maps and tables make the information easy to navigate.
“Information is one of the most powerful tools we have,” said PSEA Treasurer Rachael West. “Now, we can share key salary and wage information with every PSEA member. They can use it to encourage lawmakers to increase minimum salaries and wages statewide, and support their local associations’ contract negotiation teams.”
Check out the maps at the link below.
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Higher ed. gets a boost in Shapiro’s budget proposal
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed state budget for FY 2025-26, which he unveiled on Feb. 4, includes some significant increases in higher education funding, outlined in the graphic above.
For more information and a breakdown of the complete budget and what it means for Pennsylvania educators, click the link below.
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PSEA celebrates Black History Month
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Local Presidents – Be on the lookout for your NEA Representative Assembly (“RA”) delegate form
During the week of Jan. 20, The National Education Association emailed your NEA Representative Assembly delegate form. This document provides the number of delegates allowed to represent your local and is the only form available for you to report your delegates to the upcoming RA.
Completed forms should be sent to Denise Rutledge, PSEA Convention Coordinator, at drutledge@psea.org no later than April 10.
Please make sure to check your email as well as your spam/junk folder. If you believe you have not received the emailed form from NEA, you may request access to a duplicate form at www.nea.org/delegaterequirements.
The 2025 NEA Representative Assembly will be held July 2-6 in Portland, Oregon, and is the world’s largest democratic deliberative assembly. The RA consists of nearly 8,000 delegates representing state and local affiliates, student members, support professional members, and retired members.
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NEA Legislative Committee listening sessions on 119th Congress
Want to learn more about the NEA Legislative Program, advocating at the federal level, and how you can add your voice?
Click on either of the links below to register for an upcoming NEA Legislative Committee listening session*:
*Advance registration is required.
*You’ll be allowed to submit “live” questions/comments during the sessions, or you can use this form to submit them in advance.
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Member Benefits spotlight: ACCESS airfare giveaway
Spring Break Ready?
Save up to 50 percent on hotels, car rentals, flights, and theme park tickets with the PSEA Access To Savings program.
Want to WIN $500 for travel? Enter now through April 13 by visiting psea.accessdevelopment.com
BONUS: Visit us between Feb. 19-28 to be entered for a second prize for a $500 flight carrier gift certificate of your choice. One visit = two prize entries!
Make sure you are signed in and that’s it, you’re entered! One entry per day. The more days you visit, the better chance you have to win.
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400 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
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This content is intended for PSEA members and their immediate families.
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