Pennsylvania State Education Association

Special Legislative Update Edition
Week of 7-10-2023

Inside this issue

• State budget includes nearly $750 million increase for public schools
• PSEA’s top legislative priorities advance in state Legislature
• PSEA members’ advocacy defeats disastrous tuition voucher plan
• Upcoming Center for Professional Learning events and PEARL
• Member Benefits spotlight: GE Appliances store

The past few weeks in the state Capitol have been a whirlwind. And PSEA members have made a huge difference in passing a solid state budget for public education, advancing key legislative priorities, and stopping a disastrous tuition voucher bill in its tracks.

Here are some important updates.

The state Senate and House have approved a state budget that includes nearly $750 million in public school funding increases. Unfortunately, the budget bill has not reached the governor’s desk because it has not been signed in the Senate – a procedural requirement for any bill that passes both chambers and is going to the governor.

These historic school funding increases are significant, but they are just a down payment on what we need to fix Pennsylvania’s unconstitutionally broken public school funding system.

PSEA’s legislative priorities are PSEA members’ priorities. That’s why PSEA has been working to pass bills to address the school staff shortage, improve the quality of life in public schools, and provide a much-needed COLA for pre-Act 9 retirees.

We’ve made solid progress on these priorities. Here’s a quick update.

• 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.

• 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 and 1416 were approved by the state House State Government Committee on June 28.

• Increase minimum educator salaries to $60,000 and increase minimum wages for education support professionals to $20 per hour. Senate Bill 856 was introduced in the state Senate on June 30.

PSEA members’ incredible advocacy killed a disastrous $100 million tuition voucher plan, sending more than 28,000 emails to lawmakers to make it absolutely clear that we can’t afford to take money away from public schools and send it to private and religious schools.

You persuaded pro-public education allies in the state House to stand firm in opposing tuition vouchers, and Gov. Josh Shapiro publicly stated he would veto any tuition voucher appropriation from the state budget.

This doesn’t mean the fight against vouchers is over. It is clear that Gov. Shapiro supports the concept and this public policy discussion will continue into the foreseeable future.

Incredible work, PSEA!

PEARL

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

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

• Formative Assessment Fun with Kahoot
• Time Management and Organization for Online Learning
• Understanding Students and Anger

Webinars

• Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First: Cultivating Healing and Well-being Through Social Awareness
  
  • July 18, 10 a.m.
• Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First: Cultivating Healing and Well-being Through Relationship Skills
  • Aug. 1, 5:30 p.m.
• Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First: Cultivating Healing and Well-being Through Responsible Decision Making
  • Aug. 8, 10 a.m.

Book Discussions

• Treasure Hunters
  
  • July 20, 10-11 a.m.
• There's a Math in My Origami
  
  • Aug. 3, 10-11 a.m.

Member Well-being

• Mindful Mondays
  • July 17, 8:30 a.m. 
• Mindful Mondays
  • Aug. 7, 8:30 a.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.

Big savings every day!

PSEA members enjoy exclusive access!

The GE Appliances Store is an exclusive shopping website where members can save up to 25 percent off MSRP on select GE appliances.

• Special savings on Profile, Cafe, GE, Monogram, Haier, and Hotpoint major appliances
• Additional promotional and rebate offers
• Shop their new suite of small appliances
• Convenient in-home delivery, installation, and haul-away services available

Register to access the GE Appliances Store now!

Phone: 1-866-907-6490