The PennZone

Pittsburgh, PA ~ Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has proposed a plan to rebuild the state's teacher workforce and make schools better, healthier, and safer for students. The plan includes a personal income tax credit of up to $2,500 a year for three years for any new teacher, nurse, police officer, or trooper who earns a new license or certification, or for anyone who already has a license in those fields and decides to move to Pennsylvania for work.

The teaching shortage is a crisis across the Commonwealth. In 2021, Pennsylvania issued 6,000 new teacher certifications – down from 20,000 certifications ten years ago. Nearly half of all school districts had open teaching positions at the start of this school year, and roughly 1 in 5 school districts have had significant negative impacts on educational programs from teacher shortages.

During his visit to Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 on Tuesday, Governor Shapiro said "I've talked to students, teachers, administrators, and parents across Pennsylvania, and it's clear the teaching shortage is having a significant impact on our schools and our kids. We need to get more teachers in our classrooms to reduce class sizes, ease the burden on current teachers, and ensure our kids have the support they need to learn and grow. My budget proposes a commonsense solution to this problem – a new tax credit of up to $2,500 a year for three years for new teachers – and ensure we have enough qualified teachers in our classrooms."

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Colfax K-8 Principal Dr. Tamara Sanders-Woods expressed her excitement about Governor Shapiro's proposal saying "We are ecstatic to learn about specific attention and proposals that include supports to rebuild our workforce and that offers opportunities to those who aspire to a career in education. It is our hope that these efforts will help recruit and retain quality educators into our schools. Our students deserve it, educators deserve it, and our world needs it." Student Teacher Megan Ost also commented on the proposal saying "It is important to note that Pennsylvania is in deep need for great passionate hardworking educators...I believe this can really impact new educators and help those passionate about teaching."

In addition to the tax credit proposal Governor Shapiro's budget includes an increase of $567.4 million – or 7.8 percent – for basic education funding; $38.5 million for universal free breakfast; $500 million over the next 5 years to reduce environmental hazards; $500 million over the next five years so that schools can fund mental health counselors; as well as $1.5 million in grant funding provided by the Department of Education yesterday which will expedite special education teacher certification processes with partnering school districts.

Governor Shapiro's plan is an effort towards rebuilding Pennsylvania's education workforce while providing better educational opportunities for students across the Commonwealth.

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