Having fewer new teachers available can leave public and private schools with fewer candidates to fill jobs. Teacher shortages also can cause larger class sizes and require other school staff to work in classrooms, leaving students without a regular teacher.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has a plan to help address the educator shortage. The State System is seeking $112 million in state funding to produce more graduates in six in-demand, high-growth jobs, including education.
PASSHE’s plan would use $56.5 million to provide direct financial relief to education students, saving each an average of $1,500. High-need students could receive an additional $5,000, for a total of $6,500 per year.
Making a degree more affordable would encourage additional people, especially those from rural and urban communities, to pursue a career educating students in Pennsylvania classrooms.
Separately, PASSHE is seeking $573.5 million, an inflationary increase of $21 million, enabling the Board of Governors to consider freezing the basic in-state undergraduate tuition rate for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year.
