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Week of 3-2-2026
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Inside this issue
- Project 2025 in action! Thousands of Pennsylvanians lose SNAP benefits
- Lawmakers must approve Gov. Shapiro’s latest school funding boost
- Reading resources for every day
- Member Benefits spotlight: GE Appliances Store
- PEARL & Center for Professional Learning
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Project 2025 in action! Thousands of Pennsylvanians lose SNAP benefits
Childhood hunger is already a major issue facing our schools today. Cuts to SNAP nutrition benefits will only make success at school that much harder for kids experiencing food insecurity. Nearly 60,000 Pennsylvanians have been removed from the federal SNAP program in just the past six months, according to a recent article in the Evening Sun. This follows the expansion of strict work reporting requirements signed into law by President Trump. Advocates warn that even people who are working and following the rules are being pushed off benefits because of the paperwork burden involved in proving compliance.
Students across Pennsylvania depend on food assistance to show up to school ready to learn. Research shows that students who are food-secure miss fewer days, concentrate better, retain more, and are more alert.
Unfortunately, this move was not unexpected. Project 2025, which is the policy agenda now actively shaping decisions in Washington, D.C., explicitly targets federal school meal programs. Page 302 of that document describes school meal programs as an overreach of the federal government, laying the groundwork for deep cuts to come. PSEA’s position is straightforward: Slashing food support for kids hurts kids. Full stop.
If you have students or families affected by the SNAP changes, they can call Pennsylvania’s customer service center at 877-395-8930 or visit pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/snap to learn about exemptions and how to document compliance. Food banks and pantries across the state are also prepared to help bridge the gap.
Click the link below to learn more about how Project 2025 is being implemented and to sign up to become an Education Defender.
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Lawmakers must approve Gov. Shapiro’s latest school funding boost
As the PA House and Senate Appropriations Committees met for separate budget hearings this week, PSEA President Aaron Chapin urged lawmakers to build on two years of progress toward fixing the state’s unconstitutional school funding system, and to pass Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed FY 2026–27 education budget in full.
Shapiro’s proposal includes increases of $565 million for adequacy and tax equity payments, $50 million in basic education funding for all public schools, $50 million for special education, and $14 million for career and technical education. The governor also proposed expanded funding for student teacher stipends and called for raising the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour.
“We have seen what our public schools have been able to achieve over the past two years with targeted adequacy funding,” Chapin said. “More schools are reducing class sizes, investing in STEM, expanding math and literacy coaching, and making long overdue repairs to aging buildings. We must continue this progress.”
Chapin also called on the Senate to vote on Senate Bill 721, which would provide cost-of-living adjustments to school and state employees who retired before pension enhancements took effect under Act 9 of 2001.
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Reading resources for every day
March is National Reading Month, but every day is a new opportunity to introduce someone to the joy of reading.
Did you know? Studies have shown that reading reduces stress, and that reading just 20 minutes a day adds up to reading 1.8 million words per year. It’s also the fastest way for children to grow their vocabulary, learning an estimated 4,000 to 12,000 words every year from reading.
Every month, NEA shares book recommendations and other resources to get students reading. View their selections at the link below.
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Member Benefits spotlight: GE Appliances Store
Big savings every day!
PSEA members enjoy exclusive access!
The GE Appliances Store is an exclusive shopping website where members can save up to 25% off MSRP on select GE appliances.
- Special savings on Profile, Cafe, GE, Monogram, Haier, and Hotpoint major appliances
- Additional promotional and rebate offers
- Shop their new suite of small appliances
- Convenient in-home delivery, installation, and haul-away services available
Register to access the GE Appliances Store now!
Phone: 1-866-907-6490
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PEARL & Center for Professional Learning
Visit PEARL today and choose from more than 95 asynchronous courses available for Act 48 credit and Chapter 14 verification.
You can find multiple courses that interest you in any of these tracks:
- Book Studies
- Educational Equity
- Pedagogy
- Policy
- Pupil Services
- Special Populations
- Technology in Education
- SEL & Wellness
- Creating Legally Sound and Student-Centered IEPs
- Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the Classroom Today: What Is It and What Does It Look Like?
- Authentic Resources in the World Language Classroom
- Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card
- See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers (2024 edition)
Earn postgraduate credits from PennWest University for $70 each!
More than 150 postgraduate credits are available across a wide range of teaching and learning topics.
These postgraduate credits (micro-credentials) can count toward the 24 credits required for a Level II certificate and also may count toward salary advancement.*
For support professionals, these courses may meet Chapter 14 requirements.**
*Check your contract to determine if you can apply standalone postgraduate credits for column movement.
**Seek approval from your employer prior to completing hours to apply toward Chapter 14 requirements.
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400 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
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This content is intended for PSEA members and their immediate families.
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