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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 3, 2024 04:33 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Lisa A. Borowski and Rep. Paul Friel, Rep. Tarah Probst, Rep. Jim Prokopiak |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Incentivizing Inactive Educators to Return to Teaching |
| Reporting from the Pennsylvania Department of Education shows 6,366 individuals received emergency permits during the 2021-2022 school year, but only 4,220 individuals received teaching certificates. For the first time, Pennsylvania brought in more new educators that do not have full qualifications to teach in schools than those that do. But we also have teachers who have stepped away from education and placed their certifications on inactive status. One of the top three reasons that experts note individuals are not becoming teachers at the pace to fill the growing shortage is the increasing cost of higher education, and some inactive educators have approached us out of concern that the cost is too high to return. That means there is room for us to assist those who have an inactive certification but still have a passion to return to the classroom. Our legislation would help those who wish to return to education complete their Act 48 professional development requirements in full, from where they left off. We can do this by allowing certified, inactive educators the option of earning six college credits at a free or reduced cost to them. Providing for up to just six college credits could not only help bring some teachers back to Pennsylvania schools, but also promote our universities and help bring inactive educators up to speed on changes that have been made since leaving the field. Having more educated teachers will also inject this new knowledge into the classroom environment. Removing barriers to career re-entry is not just a concern of ours, it was brought to us from constituents who took a step back from the field but now cannot hide their desire to return. Most importantly, we hope you will consider sponsoring this because you listen to our teachers, you act on their concerns, and you do what is necessary to return passionate educators to the classroom. |
Introduced as HB2572
Memo Updated: September 3, 2024 04:34 PM