News

Teachers across the country are realizing that they no longer want to be attached to their expensive national and state associations. In doing so, they have cut ties, by disaffiliating or disassociating, with the teacher unions that provide the three-tiered unified membership status. Over the past few years, the teachers unions have lost large groups […]

Please join us for one of KEYTA’s half-day seminars. Topics include: “Avoiding Legal Pitfalls” – Disciplinary meetings…how to avoid them and how to prepare if you find yourself in one. “Building Better Workplace Relationships” – Discussion on how different colleague personalities can affect your teaching position. “Closing the Culture Gap” – This session covers evolving

KEYTA supports Senate Bill 371 and House Bill 785, legislation that would require public school entities to notify teachers of their rights regarding union membership and fees. Both legislative proposals would require that school districts notify all employees that any payment they make to a union is voluntary. On June 27, 2018, the U.S. Supreme

Pennsylvania students continue to use the Safe 2 Say Something program to anonymously report situations that could pose a danger in school.  According to the Attorney General’s Office, Safe 2 Say Something fielded over 7070 tips in the first six weeks of operation, which began earlier this year.  Of those, approximately one-third were serious enough

Several months ago, the Tamaqua Area School Board unanimously approved a policy that allowed for teachers, administrators and other employees to carry firearms on school property.  Employees approved to carry a firearm would have to successfully complete training and achieve the necessary qualifications before they receive final board approval to carry a firearm on school

The Keystone Teachers Association would like to congratulate Marilyn Pryle, Pennsylvania’s 2019 Teacher of the Year. Pryle is an English teacher at Abington Heights High School and was selected from 12 Teacher of the Year finalists. We would also like to honor the other 11 finalists as well as all Pennsylvania educators for the dedicated

Planning Your Retirement It is never too early or too late to plan for your retirement. We suggest you attend the PSERS Foundations For Your Future (FFYF) program.  These programs are designed to give public school employees an overview of their retirement benefits and general information about PSERS’ benefits and services. Attending one of these

The November 6 elections are getting close and candidates are running for the positions of Governor, US House, PA House, half of the US Senate and half of the PA Senate. Since KEYTA was founded 25 years ago, it has been our strong stance to abstain from endorsing or supporting political candidates and non-educational issues. 

Last week the PA House of Representatives unanimously voted to pass Senate Bill 1095, legislation that provides alternatives to Keystone Exams for students.  The bill offers students who may not have scored proficient on the Exams alternative pathways to demonstrate their readiness to graduate.  The alternatives will allow students to prove their proficiency in the

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court Janus ruling, we have been made aware of many mistruths coming from local, state and national teacher’s unions.  Union membership numbers are much lower in right-to-work states, and now that Pennsylvania public employees are also free to choose, we are seeing the unions pushing even harder to