Student teacher support program opens applications
$10K stipends available during placements
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HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania's Student Teacher Support Program will begin accepting applications today, April 11, at www.PHEAA.org/StudentTeacher.
The new program, launched Wednesday, will provide student teachers with $10,000 stipends for their 12-week placements, beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
Student teaching in high-need areas that attract few student teachers will qualify a student to receive an additional $5,000. Student teachers receiving stipends, in turn, agree to work as educators within Pennsylvania for at least three years.
Gov. Josh Shapiro was joined by student PSEA members and leaders, as well as state Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, and other policymakers to mark the start of the program that is anticipated to help ease teacher and staff shortages in schools.
"The Student Teacher Support Program is needed now more than ever," said Amber Bloom, vice president of Student PSEA. "We began talking about this idea among our Student PSEA leaders after we heard from so many members struggling with the costs of commuting to and working in student teaching placements.
"Student teachers often have to give up part-time jobs in order to give their student teaching the attention it deserves," she said. "I have friends who have struggled just to afford the commute to their student teaching placements, which can be an hour or more each way."
PSEA President Aaron Chapin said Student PSEA members understand how challenging it can be to complete a 12-week student teacher placement, while paying tuition, room and board, and all the other expenses of daily life.
"This program will help our student teachers and put Pennsylvania on a path to ease teacher and staff shortages in our schools," Chapin said.