Pennsylvania State Education Association

Week of 3-10-2025

Inside this issue

• The fight continues: Fight back on Trump’s plan to cut U.S. Dept. of Education staff by 50%
• Student teacher stipend applications
• Fundamental Facts about public education in PA
• PEARL & Center for Professional Learning
• Member Benefits spotlight: Aetna Dental Access discount dental program

So far, PSEA members have raised their voices and sent over 36,000 messages to lawmakers in response to efforts to destroy the U.S. Department of Education. Keep up the great work! 

Now, the Trump administration has announced that it plans to get rid of 50 percent of the U.S. Department of Education’s staff. That means 1,315 people who help provide critical educational supports and services to students in Pennsylvania and around the country are going to lose their jobs.

This could put $1.6 billion in federal funding to Pennsylvania public schools at risk, and put nearly 7,000 jobs in Pennsylvania public schools in jeopardy.

The educational opportunities for every student, particularly those 7.5 million students with IEPs, are now at risk. TOGETHER, we can fight for our students, our schools, and our professions.

Click the button below to contact your U.S. representative and U.S. senator RIGHT NOW and tell them to OPPOSE any effort to CUT 50 percent of the staff at the U.S. Department of Education.

The Pennsylvania Student Teacher Support Program, administered through PHEAA, provides $10,000 to eligible student teachers to support them during their full-time student teacher experience. Over 3,000 aspiring educators submitted applications for the 2025-26 school year when the application opened on March 6. With such an incredible demand for the program, PSEA is calling for at least $50 million for student teacher stipends in the FY 2025-26 state budget.

“Student teacher stipends are life-changing for the aspiring educators who receive them. Stipends allow student teachers to gas up their cars, pay their rent, and put food on the table, while getting the classroom experience they need to be qualified teachers. They ensure student teachers don’t have to take part-time jobs in the evenings while they are working full-time jobs during the day in our schools.” -PSEA President Aaron Chapin

The student teacher stipend application is open.

If you are student teaching in the 2025-26 school year and have not yet submitted a stipend application, please do so as soon as possible. Do not miss out on this life-changing opportunity to receive $10,000. Visit www.psea.org/stipendqa to view detailed step-by-step instructions to ensure a smooth application process.

ICYMI... Student PSEA stars on “PA Newsmakers.”

On a recent episode of “PA Newsmakers,” Student PSEA President Riley Artis and Student PSEA Southern Region President Torrence Brown sit down with PSEA President Aaron Chapin to share what it’s like being student teachers and why it is so essential that the state fully fund student teacher stipends. You can watch the full episode online on the PA Newsmakers website.

• Scores on the Nation's Report Card 4^th Grade Reading
  • Only four states have statistically higher fourth grade reading scores than Pennsylvania.
  • Only one state has a statistically higher percentage of fourth grade students who scored proficient or above (at the two highest levels) than Pennsylvania.
    
    
• 8^th Grade Reading
  • Only four states have statistically higher eighthgrade reading scores than Pennsylvania.
  • Only two states have a statistically higher percentage of eighth grade students who scored proficient or above (at the two highest levels) than Pennsylvania.
    
    
• 4^th Grade Math
  • Only three states have statistically higher fourth grade math scores than Pennsylvania.
  • Only one state has a statistically higher percentage of fourth grade students who scored proficient or above (at the two highest levels) than Pennsylvania.
    
    
• 8^th Grade Math
  • Only six states have statistically higher eighth grade math scores than Pennsylvania.
  • Only three states have a statistically higher percentage of eighth grade students who scored proficient or above (at the two highest levels) than Pennsylvania.
    
    

As an educator, you are a trusted voice in your community. You can use these facts, along with your powerful personal stories, to help spread the word and counter misinformation about public schools in Pennsylvania.

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

• Apps-olutely Engaged! Free Apps to Engage Students in Learning
  • March 19, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Text-Centered Socratic Seminar
  • April 8, 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.

Smile brighter with savings at over 262,000* available dental practice locations nationwide. Use your card over and over again to keep your teeth sparkling clean!

For one flat household rate of just $8 per month, PSEA members and their legal dependents up to age 26 can access dental savings through Aetna Dental Access.

• In most instances, save 15 percent to 50 percent per visit.**
• Save on dental services such as cleanings, X-rays, crowns, root canals, and fillings.

Learn more about this new program below:

*As of April 2020.

**Actual costs and savings vary by provider, service, and geographical area. The discount program provides access to the Aetna Dental Access® network. This network is administered by Aetna Life Insurance Company (ALIC). Neither ALIC nor any of its affiliates offer or administer the discount program. Neither ALIC nor any of its affiliates is an affiliate, agent, representative, or employee of the discount program. Dental providers are independent contractors and not employees or agents of ALIC or its affiliates. ALIC does not provide dental care or treatment and is not responsible for outcomes.

(Not available to VT residents.)