Pennsylvania State Education Association

Welcome to "The Source," an e-newsletter exclusively for Student PSEA members. In each issue, you'll receive the latest updates from your association, advice from veteran educators, professional development offerings, and more to support you as an aspiring educator.

Inside this issue

• ICYMI: State Legislature approves student teacher stipend program
• Blossom at the 2024 Student PSEA Conference and Convention
• Lucy A. Valero Memorial Scholarship applications are due Jan. 31
• A.P.E.X. spotlight: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Upcoming Praxis study sessions and professional development opportunities
• Member Benefit spotlight: restaurants, travel, shopping, and more

ICYMI: State Legislature approves student teacher stipend program

On Dec. 13, legislators passed House Bill 301 to establish the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, which will provide aspiring educators with a student teacher stipend and remove a heavy financial burden on the way to becoming a teacher. The Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program will be administered through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Association Agency (PHEAA) which will consult with the Pennsylvania Department of Education on the program's administration.

 

• Aspiring educators will be granted $10,000 for student teaching and will receive an additional $5,000 if they student teach in schools with higher teacher vacancies or in areas that struggle to attract student teachers.
• Teachers who mentor student teachers will be granted $2,500, but will be reduced by any amount they receive from an institution of higher education that pays them for being mentors.
• The program ensures the grants are exempt from Pennsylvania state income taxes.

• The FY 2023-24 state budget included

To be eligible for the program, students will:
• Be currently enrolled in a Pennsylvania institution of higher education and approved educator preparation program.
• Meet the regulatory minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.
• Obtain the necessary criminal background and child abuse registry clearances.
• Be placed in a position as a student teacher at a school entity or nonpublic school located in Pennsylvania.
• Agree to work as a teacher at a school entity or nonpublic school in Pennsylvania for a period of no less than three years, unless the agency determines there are extenuating circumstances.

 

HB 301 was just signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro last month. Developing the program and application will take time. PSEA does not believe the program will be made available for spring 2024 but expects PHEAA to have the program available in the fall. A PennLive article published on Jan. 3 states that PHEAA is required to post applications by mid-April and will award stipends to applicants who are completing their student teaching requirement in fall 2024.

 

PSEA will work to ensure PHEAA meets this timeline and provides policymakers with advance numbers on the demand of the program, so PSEA can advocate for increased funding for the program in the FY 2024-25 state budget.

 

Blossom at the 2024 Student PSEA Conference and Convention

Join us for the 2024 Student PSEA Conference and Convention from March 21-23 at the Eden Resorts & Suites in Lancaster.

Attendees will hear from current educators, participate in community service at Hamilton Elementary School, and network with fellow aspiring educators across Pennsylvania. Student PSEA awards and Achieving Professional Excellence awards will also be presented at the conference.

Registration opens Jan. 20 and is FREE for all Student PSEA members. Attendees are responsible for arranging their own hotel accommodations by Feb. 20 to receive a discounted room rate from PSEA. Click the button below for more details.

Lucy A. Valero Memorial Scholarship applications are due Jan. 31

The Lucy A. Valero Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to outstanding Student PSEA members who are enrolled in accredited teacher preparation programs and are in good standing of PSEA. Scholarship recipients are chosen by the trustees of the Lucy A. Valero Memorial Scholarship Fund composed of PSEA officers, staff, and the Student PSEA president.

Applications must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the 2024 Student PSEA Conference and Convention in Lancaster. Click the button below to apply.

A.P.E.X. spotlight: Indiana University of Pennsylvania

 

Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Student PSEA chapter took third place in last year's A.P.E.X. competition for their work in community service, leadership, and political action. Their activities included:

2023-24 A.P.E.X recognitions must be submitted by March 18 and will be presented at the 2024 Student PSEA Conference and Convention in Lancaster. Guidelines for A.P.E.X can be found here.

Upcoming Praxis study sessions and professional development opportunities

 

From Feb. 5-22, NEA will offer a virtual series of two-hour Praxis content study sessions to help you prepare for your exams. Each session is dedicated to a different exam and facilitated by teacher leaders. Register here by Jan. 21. Questions can be directed to Tiffany Cain at tcain@nea.org.

 

Member Benefit spotlight: restaurants, travel, shopping, and more

There are a lot of benefits to being a Student PSEA member, and one of them is that your membership saves you money through ACCESS.

You can find thousands of discounts and saving opportunities on restaurants, hotels, travel, shopping, and more.

Connect with Student PSEA on social media

 www.facebook.com/StudentPSEA

 twitter.com/StudentPSEA

 www.instagram.com/studentpsea

www.psea.org/student

 

The Source provides you with pertinent information, interesting features, and valuable resources on your journey as a Student PSEA member.