Student teacher stipend application launches

(The Center Square) – The application process for Pennsylvania’s new student teacher stipend program officially rolled out this week.

During a news conference Wednesday, legislators from both sides of the aisle joined Gov. Josh Shapiro to celebrate the development.

“When these lawmakers and those who are assembled here today look out and recognize that one of the biggest workforce challenges we have is that we don’t have enough teachers to educate our children, they came together and said that’s not a problem we’re going to allow to fester,” Shapiro said.

The $10 million grant program offers student teachers up to $15,000 in stipends during their 12-week full-time placements. Previously, the positions were unpaid.

Those who receive the stipend must work a minimum of three years in Pennsylvania public schools following graduation.

Sen. Vince Hughes, D-Philadelphia, said the exuberance is “appropriate” given the seriousness of the issue. Since 2011, he said students graduating with teaching certificates dropped 71%.

The program would address staff shortages by incentivizing the “best and the brightest” to pursue a career in education. Student debt, low wages and negative attitudes toward teachers in a high-stress environment have steered students away from the profession.

“The roles that these young people are stepping into will shape lives,” said Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, who recalled his own experience being raised by a teacher.

“We know that most internships out here have pay that come with it, and we look at the student teacher opportunity for 12 weeks as a paid internship,” said Rep. Gina Curry, D-Upper Darby.

Curry went on to ask her colleagues to fund the $75 million she said is required to support teachers across the state.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, which represents XXX active and retired educators, described the stipend as “modest” though still “a win-win.”

“It is a win for the young people who want to pursue careers in the classroom, and it is a win for Pennsylvania because it removes a significant financial burden to becoming a teacher at a time when so many school districts are struggling with teacher shortages,” said Amber Bloom, the union’s vice president.

The program offers $5,000 on top of the stipend’s $10,000 base for students who choose to work in high-need schools. In addition, $2,500 is offered to cooperating teachers who offer themselves as mentors to participating student teachers.

Beth Byers, director of the Teacher Intern Program at Wilson College, said the latter provision echoes research that shows “the greatest factor to student teaching success is the teacher.”

“Moreover, the cooperating teacher has the most profound impact on the student teaching experience,” she said.

Byers noted the importance of encouraging student teachers to consider high-needs districts for their placements, a pressing issue across the state following last year’s court ruling which revealed unconstitutional inequity across schools.

Hearings of the Basic Education Funding Committee throughout 2023 revealed that in many cases, teachers and student teachers are asked to work in deteriorating facilities without the resources needed to meet the needs of their students.