Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 2-24-2025

Inside this issue

• U.S. House budget blueprint puts health, nutrition, and education of PA children at risk
• U.S. DOE "End DEI" Portal
• PSEA president calls for reforms to teacher certification system
• PSEA celebrates Women’s History Month
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning
• Member Benefits spotlight: Tele-therapy

“The unprecedented cuts called for in this budget blueprint will put the health, education, and nutrition of Pennsylvania’s children at risk to pay for more tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans,” Chapin said.

“Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania students count on school breakfast and lunch programs to get the nutrition they need. Funding cuts to school meals would result in students going hungry. Ask any teacher: Students cannot learn effectively if they are sitting in classrooms with empty stomachs.

PSEA is closely monitoring this attempt to undermine local control of public schools and cut their federal funding. We will keep you informed as more details become available.

While these types of actions are discouraging, remember that public opinion surveys show again and again that the people in our communities see you as qualified, dedicated, caring adults who educate their children and give them the skills they need to think for themselves.

Rest assured that PSEA has your back, and is here to defend and protect your students, your schools, and your jobs.

To learn more about this, visit this Reuters story. 

In testimony before the state House Education Committee on Tuesday, PSEA President Aaron Chapin outlined key reforms to improve the state’s teacher certification system. His recommendations focused on reducing costs for new teachers, better aligning certifications with actual school roles, and addressing certification grade spans.

Chapin praised Gov. Josh Shapiro’s efforts to cut teacher certification wait times from 12 weeks to two and commended the bipartisan creation of $10,000 stipends for student teachers. He also stressed the need for more state funding, estimating at least $50 million is required to fully support the Student Teacher Stipend program.

“Teachers today face increasing training requirements from the General Assembly; more and more students with diverse and complex mental, emotional, and physical needs; intense pressures of high-stakes standardized testing; and the need to keep our students and themselves safe from violent threats,” Chapin said. “It is essential that any solutions proposed by policymakers maintain high-quality preparation and do not lower standards for certification nor undermine the certification requirement.”

March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the countless contributions women have made to education, labor rights, and our communities. For PSEA members, this month is an opportunity to recognize the educators, support staff, and union leaders who have shaped our profession and continue to advocate for fair wages, safe workplaces, and quality public education.

As we celebrate, let’s reflect on the progress made and the work still ahead in achieving true equity. Together, we can continue to support and uplift the women who make a difference every day in our schools and beyond.

PEARL

Visit the new, improved PEARL today and choose from more than 95 asynchronous courses available for Act 48 credit and Chapter 14 verification.

You can find multiple courses that interest you in any of these tracks: 

• Book Studies
• Educational Equity
• Pedagogy
• Policy
• Pupil Services
• Special Populations
• Technology in Education
• SEL & Wellness

Webinars

• Beyond the Screen: The Impact of Cellphones and Social Media on Our Students
  • March 4, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Fostering a “Growth Mindset” in the Classroom Today: Shifting the Focus to Growth and Development with Assessment and Grades Rather than Measurement for Sorting and Classification
  • March 12, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Apps-olutely Engaged! Free Apps to Engage Students in Learning
  • March 19, 7-8:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Tech for Teacher Wellness: Strategies for a Healthy Life and Sustainable Career
  • March 25, 7-8 p.m.
• The Mindful Teacher’s Toolkit
  • April 2, 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 (micro-credentials) 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.

Enjoy convenient access to therapists and counselors from the comfort of home. Get support for anxiety, depression, stress/PTSD, panic disorder, grief, family and marriage issues, and more. Members, spouses, and any dependents age 18 years up to and including age 25 are covered under one membership. 

Only $25.79 per month for PSEA members

• Consults are always $0 for counseling
• Mental health consults are $25
• No insurance needed
• Designed for educators
• No contracts, cancel anytime
• 30-day money back guarantee