Week of 4-25-2022

Inside this issue

• Voucher bill barely passes state House
• Primary Election Day: 18 days and counting
• Shout out: Congratulations, Student PSEA!
• Available courses on PSEA’s PEARL professional learning platform
• PSEA Member Benefits spotlight: Boscov’s Travel

In a last ditch effort to come up with the votes, state House Republican leaders ended up barely passing a tuition voucher bill that will siphon millions of dollars from public schools where students need state funding the most.

By a vote of 104-98, House Bill 2619 passed the House on Wednesday, moving the fight to stop it to the state Senate.

This is a shockingly irresponsible tuition voucher proposal that will end up hurting Pennsylvania’s students and wasting taxpayers’ money. And PSEA members know it. Over the past few weeks, members sent more than 10,000 emails to their state representatives, urging them to oppose the bill.

House Bill 2169 would take money from the “lowest performing” school districts, charter schools, cyber charter schools, intermediate units, and area vocational career and technical schools and offer tuition vouchers to their students.

At a time when students everywhere need more academic and mental health supports in our public schools, this is the absolute last thing lawmakers should be doing.

PSEA can still stop this bill in the Senate when senators return to session at the end of May.

So, stay tuned for the chance to speak out.

There’s one thing every PSEA member can do to stop bad ideas like tuition vouchers: vote for pro-public education candidates.

The primary election is on May 17 – just 18 days away. So, be on the lookout for PSEA-recommended candidates who believe what we believe about public education and working people like us. In the meantime, go to www.vote.pa.gov, and:

• Find key information about the election
• Learn how to register
• See how to vote by mail

Most important of all, please VOTE.

As part of Student PSEA’s annual conference, aspiring educators from Pennsylvania colleges and universities spent a day beautifying McKinley Elementary School in the Erie School District.

The project is a priority for Student PSEA members and part of their continuing Outreach to Teach school transformation service project.

Student PSEA numbers nearly 7,000 members, all of whom are preparing to make a difference as educators in Pennsylvania’s public schools. With so many schools dealing with teacher and substitute teacher shortages, we need these aspiring educators more than ever.

Congratulations, Student PSEA. Keep up the great work.

If you’re looking to earn Act 48 credits, Chapter 14 verification, or postgraduate credits this summer, look no further than PEARL, PSEA's member exclusive online learning system with nearly 100 courses and counting.

PEARL

Here are just a few courses you have access to:

• Rethinking Grading
• Phenomena-Centered Science in Your (Virtual) Classroom
• Culturally Responsive Literature in the Classroom
• Taking Seesaw to the Next Level
• Differentiating and Team Teaching: Distance Learning Edition
• Social and Emotional Learning is for Us, Too!
• Re-Imagining Relationships
• Providing Accommodations with Scaffolds in Google Classroom
• NEA's Supporting All Students in an Asynchronous Environment

Courses are always open so you can complete them in your spare time! Explore the full course list at pearl.psea.org

As a PSEA Member Benefits partner, Boscov’s Travel has many perks and benefits just for you when you book your next vacation. The company’s local, knowledgeable advisors are ready to help you plan your dream vacation – whether it's a cruise, an all-inclusive island resort, U.S. or global land tours, or Disney and Orlando amusement destinations.

In business for over 46 years, Boscov’s brings its experience and knowledge to you.

Now more than ever, using a professional travel advisor has never been more valuable. As a PSEA member, you get exclusive discounts that can be bundled with the best national offers. Yet another perk – book your travel with your Boscov’s credit card and enjoy 12 months interest-free financing!