Pennsylvania Legislative Update
The PA House and Senate have been in recess since mid-July. They return for official voting session on September 30, where they will begin their last eleven voting days before the end of the 2023-24 legislative session. Any bill not passed by then will have to start over next year.
PDE Literacy Toolkit
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has introduced a comprehensive information literacy toolkit to help educators, students, and families navigate the challenges of misinformation online. The toolkit equips teachers and parents with resources to teach critical thinking skills, enabling students to distinguish between credible information and misinformation. It offers guidance on recognizing biases, interpreting information responsibly, and participating in digital spaces thoughtfully.
Primarily aimed at educators, the toolkit is designed to integrate media literacy into lesson plans, but it also includes resources for families to support children in navigating today’s complex media landscape. By fostering these skills, the toolkit aims to prepare students for a world where fact and fiction are increasingly difficult to separate online.
Student Teacher Grants at Work
Established through Act 33 of 2023, the $10 million Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program was created to address the state’s teacher shortage. The 2024-25 budget doubled the program’s funding to $20 million annually, allowing more student teachers to receive financial support as they complete their classroom training. Last year, over 4,000 applications for the stipends were submitted in just a few hours, highlighting the significant demand for this financial support.
The program offers eligible student teachers up to $15,000 in stipends and provides up to $2,500 for cooperating teachers who mentor them. In return, student teachers commit to teaching in Pennsylvania for at least three years after certification, ensuring a long-term investment in the state’s education system. By easing the financial burden on student teachers, the initiative supports the next generation of educators while addressing staffing gaps in critical education roles across the state.
13 PA Schools Recognized as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools
Congratulations to the 13 schools in Pennsylvania recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools for their excellence in academic performance or efforts to close achievement gaps. This prestigious award was given to 356 schools across the country.
The Pennsylvania schools honored include:
- Economy Elementary School, Beaver County
- Marlborough Elementary School, Montgomery County
- West Hanover Elementary School, Dauphin County
- Richland Elementary School, Cambria County
- Mercer Area High School, Mercer County
- Central High School, Philadelphia County
- Holy Family School, Chester County
- Dorseyville Middle School, Allegheny County
- Connoquenessing Elementary School, Butler County
- Saltsburg Elementary School, Indiana County
- Quaker Valley Middle School, Allegheny County
- Springfield High School, Delaware County
- Oakview Elementary School, Mercer County
