A top priority of Pennsylvania educators is to get more, and better qualified, people into the profession. Paying student teachers for their work in schools prior to graduation is a good way to start.
In Pennsylvania, 16,000 teaching certifications were awarded in 2012, and only 4,200 teaching certificates were applied for and received in 2022. There are just not enough good, certified teachers available right now. We are in a true danger zone in regard to having enough qualified educators.
Student teachers work for at least one semester in a kindergarten to 12th grade classroom student teaching prior to their graduation. Some colleges place student teachers in the classroom much earlier, some starting in their freshman year, to make sure this is the proper career the student would like to work toward. Not only did the students pay tuition for the opportunity to be assigned to a school and work with a cooperating veteran teacher, but they have received no pay for this work.
Student teachers are obligated to spend at least one semester of their college coursework in a classroom dedicated to their area of study. For instance, an elementary major would not be assigned to a high school classroom or vice versa. They would be assigned to a cooperating teacher in their area of certification. An art major would be assigned to an art teacher, and other areas would be the same such as music, physical education, pre-school, middle school, etcetera.
We thank Governor Josh Shapiro and members of the state Senate and House of Representatives for working hard to place $30 million in the budget to pay for student teacher stipends which started in the fall semester of 2024. This new program is a wonderful way to recognize how important student teachers are, but to also bring more people into the educational setting by relieving some of the college debt they acquire.
The state has appropriated $10,000 per student for student teaching and $5,000 additional for those willing to student teach in poor, underfunded, mostly minority school systems such as Philadelphia, Lancaster, York City, Pottstown, Erie, Coatesville, Reading, and others.
The cooperating teachers who oversee the student teachers in their classroom receive $2,500 each for agreeing to undertake this huge responsibility. Working with a student teacher is a lot of extra work for the experienced educators who take on this assignment. They are the last eyes and ears to actually impart teaching skills and methods to the student teacher in the classroom, gradually giving them more and more responsibility, evaluating the student on their capabilities during the semester, and grading them at the end of this task.
An estimated amount of $50 million is needed to pay all student teachers a stipend. As of now, the stipends are on a first come, first served basis. In April 2024, nearly 3,500 student teachers applied for the stipends, but only half received them since there was not nearly enough money. Advocates for education should be pressing this issue with lawmakers, as well as contacting the governor’s office to make sure it is in next year’s education budget. Private sources, foundations, and businesses, could add to this money.
Until the recent stipends, students paid tuition to the college they attend for the privilege of working in a school district for no pay, paying travel expenses to get to their assigned teacher and school, no matter how far away the assignment was, and other expenses they might incur.
The cost of a degree in education, and the cost of the 24 graduate credits that must be attained within three years of teaching is prohibitive to many students. We must find ways to attract talented young people to the field of education by increasing pay, ensuring school safety for everyone, finding ways to ensure teacher’s ability for growth such as creating a career path for master teachers, and clear and reliable access to academic, behavioral, and mental health assistance for their students.
Teaching since the pandemic has been a very different experience than pre-pandemic, and educators need all the support they can get. Our nation needs great teachers; let’s find creative ways to attract young people to the profession.
Myra Forrest is a lifelong educator and serves as education advocate for the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation.
Source: Berkshire mont