October 16, 2025 at around noon Pennsylvania State Police at Avondale responded to Oxford High School for reports of a fight between multiple juveniles. Two […]
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By: Danielle Smith
The shortage of educators and school staffers has reached a crisis level in some Pennsylvania public schools.
The state will need to fill thousands of vacancies for teachers, principals and administrative staff by August of 2025 – according to a report from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Billy Hileman, president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, said there’s been a decline in enrollment for teacher education programs at universities in the past decade.
But one exception can be found at Pittsburgh’s Brashear High School. Hileman said it aims to inspire and prepare students interested in pursuing teaching careers.
“There are students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools who do the Teacher Academy who do become teachers, who otherwise might not have,” said Hileman, “partly because of the really wonderful teachers who have been part of that effort. Expanding that in more public schools across our state, can make a difference.”
Pennsylvania serves more than 1.7 million students in grades K-12.
This year, the Shapiro Administration unveiled a $379,000 grant to create an apprenticeship program to produce more certified teachers for Pennsylvania schools.
Susan Kemper Patrick, senior researcher with the Learning Policy Institute, said having a diverse group of teachers is crucial – particularly for students of color.
However, she noted that the teaching workforce in the U.S. has remained predominantly white over the past three decades.
At a recent national forum on the teacher shortage, she said figures from the 2020-to-2021 school year show only 20% of public school teachers in the nation were Black.
“Higher salaries are associated with lower teacher turnover,” said Kemper Patrick. “And a recent national study of teachers of color across the country found that among those surveyed, increasing salary was the top strategy to recruit and retain more teachers of color.”
Kemper Patrick said some states have managed to get substantial pay increases for teachers in the past five years, but it remains low overall.
She said as of 2021, the average starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree was over $42,000 a year.
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Harrisburg, PA — With the tax filing season opening today, the Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers to use a free online option to file their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns. Taxpayers can visit mypath.pa.gov to file their PA tax returns through the department’s state-only filing system.
myPATH is user friendly and can also be used to make income tax payments. The deadline to submit 2023 personal income tax returns is Monday, April 15, 2024.
“If you’re looking to avoid paying a fee to file your personal income tax return in Pennsylvania, myPATH is a great option. This free, online filing tool helps us deliver on Governor Shapiro’s promise to keep costs down for Pennsylvanians and their families,” Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said. “You can access myPATH from a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, which makes it easy to file your return at a time and place that are convenient for you.”
Important Features in myPATH
Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password to perform many functions in myPATH. That includes filing the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40), making a payment, responding to department requests for information, and checking the status of a refund.
In order to file the PA-40, taxpayers will need to provide their Social Security number and either: (1) the tax liability for a previous tax year; or (2) their birth date, Pennsylvania driver’s license/photo ID number, and the expiration date for the license/photo ID. myPATH offers error-reducing automatic calculators and provides instant confirmation that your return has been successfully filed.
If you choose to create a username and password in myPATH, you’ll have the ability to update or view detailed account information and notices. You can also manage third-party access to your account, meaning you can give a tax professional or another person access to file your return and make payments on your behalf.
Spanish Resources for Filing
myPATH has an option for Spanish-speaking Pennsylvania taxpayers to file the PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40). In addition, the department has an informational video in SpanishOpens In A New Window with step-by-step instructions on how to use myPATH to file a PA-40 as part of its Revenue411 video series.
April 15 Deadline
All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2023 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Monday, April 15, 2024.
Taxpayer Service and Assistance
Personal income tax assistance is available through the department’s Online Customer Service CenterOpens In A New Window and by calling 717-787-8201 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Online Customer Service Center contains answers to hundreds of common income tax questions and allows taxpayers to securely submit a question to the department through a process that is similar to sending an email.
Taxpayers may also visit a Department of Revenue district office for state personal income tax filing assistance. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Customers are encouraged to call ahead to make appointments and they should also bring their Social Security cards and photo identification with them to facilitate tax filing.
Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online by selecting the Where’s My Income Tax Refund? link on the department’s homepage; or by calling 1-888-PATAXES. Taxpayers will be prompted to provide their Social Security number and requested refund amount to obtain the current status.
Free tax forms and instructions are available at revenue.pa.gov.
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Governor Shapiro’s proposed 2024-25 budget puts forth a bold vision to create economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.
New Holland, PA – Today, at New Holland Agriculture’s Lancaster County campus, Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding highlighted key pieces of Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget, focused on creating economic opportunity for all in communities across the Commonwealth. Governor Shapiro and Secretary Redding took a hands-on tour of New Holland Agriculture’s Lancaster County campus, where innovative, high-tech machinery that is driving progress in agriculture and conservation is developed, manufactured, and sold.
Governor Shapiro understands that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands – and his 2024-25 budget proposal puts agriculture front and center in that conversation, investing $10.3 million in Agriculture and Conservation Innovation funds that will support innovative manufacturers and provide opportunities for farmers to be more efficient and productive, while enhancing the soil and water resources key to Pennsylvania’s future.
“For the first time ever, our economic development strategy isn’t limited in its focus to our high rises or our suburban office parks – we understand that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands. There’s real innovation happening all across our Commonwealth, especially on our farms. That’s why my budget places a special emphasis on agriculture, I want to help more farmers upgrade their equipment and take advantage of the latest technology through our Ag Innovation funding,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “High-tech innovations like New Holland Agriculture develops and produces depend on investment. New Holland Equipment may be part of our heritage – but it’s also a major employer today and a world-leader in driving the kind of innovation in ag that’s going to help Pennsylvania farmers for years to come. If we want to compete and succeed as a Commonwealth, then we have to invest in our farmers.”
New Holland Equipment – a brand of CNH Industrial – has a 341-acre campus in Lancaster County that includes a 150-acre test farm and a 700,000-square-foot equipment manufacturing plant. The campus provides 600 jobs, including a Pennsylvania-certified earn-while-you-learn Ag Equipment Service Technician Apprenticeship designed to fill a pipeline for skilled technicians who can service cutting-edge, computerized equipment.
“When Pennsylvania invests in agriculture, everybody wins. Our family farmers have innovated and fought to stay competitive in a tough marketplace, all the while being the original leaders in conserving our environment and our priceless soil and water resources,” said Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. “This budget demonstrates that the Shapiro Administration is in their corner, continuing to feed opportunities for agriculture to grow, and for Pennsylvania’s economy to grow along with it.”
Some of the innovative equipment developed and manufactured by New Holland runs on alternative energy sources and autonomous technology. The Pennsylvania-based business is helping make it possible for farmers to precisely target fertilizer and pesticide applications where problems exist, and deliver precision planting and harvesting to lower costs, increase productivity, and sustain their farms’ future.
“I know firsthand the economic impact of agriculture because my father worked over 30 years at New Holland Equipment creating multiple patents for them,” said Representative Mike Sturla. “To have such an innovative global company based in New Holland is a true asset to Pennsylvania. I commend Governor Shapiro on his comprehensive economic development strategy.”
“CNH Industrial has a long-standing foundation in Pennsylvania Agriculture since the New Holland brand was founded here in Lancaster County, more than 125 years ago,” said Richard Heisey, Vice President for Product Engineering at CNH Industrial. “A vital part of our longstanding success has been the close work we do with our customers to break new ground in innovation, sustainability, and productivity. As we look forward, we see the pace of this innovation only continuing to accelerate, so we welcome this commitment to the continued spirit of Pennsylvania as an innovator in developing new technologies that move and feed not only our state and country, but the world.”
The Innovation and Conservation Fund will magnify the impact of conservation investments in the PA Farm Bill, including the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program that helps farmers purchase conservation equipment, Conservation Excellence Grants, Farm Vitality Grants for planning, the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program and others.
The Governor’s Economic Development Strategy, the first in nearly 20 years, puts agriculture front and center in the conversation. The strategy recognizes that the 53,000 farms across the Commonwealth support over 600,000 jobs and contribute $132 billion to our state’s economy.
The agriculture sector is a critical economic driver – and to continue Pennsylvania’s national legacy as an agriculture leader, the 2024-25 budget proposes investing:
You can read Governor Shapiro’s full 2024-25 budget in brief here.
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Governor Shapiro unveiled his higher education blueprint in January after working with higher education leaders from across the Commonwealth to improve access and opportunity for Pennsylvania students.
Governor Shapiro believes that now is the time to invest – and his plan ensures higher education will be an economic driver for Pennsylvania, support students, and address workforce shortages while maintaining Pennsylvania’s $14 billion surplus.
Reading, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid Mumin toured Reading Area Community College (RACC) with Senator Judy Schwank to learn how RACC is giving students the freedom to chart their own course to successful careers and addressing critical workforce needs – like the lack of nurses – in Pennsylvania.
Governor Shapiro and his Administration are currently working with higher education institutions and leaders to build out the Governor’s new blueprint for higher education. After today’s tour, the Governor and local leaders highlighted the need to take action and create more opportunities for Pennsylvania students, giving them the freedom to chart their own course while driving economic growth and prosperity for our Commonwealth. Governor Shapiro and Secretary Mumin highlighted RACC’s focus on high-need fields like nursing and its commitment to serving first-generation students, especially from Pennsylvania’s growing Latino community.
“After 30 years of disinvestment, too many of our colleges and universities are running on empty, and not enough students have affordable pathways through college and into good jobs. Pennsylvania currently ranks 49th for state investment in higher education, and 48th in higher education affordability. I want to be number one on that list – not number 49,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “My blueprint for higher education will create opportunity for Pennsylvania students and families and drive economic growth and prosperity in our communities. I know some folks look at my plan and say it’s too bold and that we can’t afford it right now. But I say we can’t afford not to invest right now – we have a $14 billion surplus, and we are facing real challenges in education and with our workforce that will hold us back in the future if we don’t take action right now. It’s time to build on this new blueprint for higher education in Pennsylvania and leave a lasting legacy on this Commonwealth.”
In January, Governor Shapiro unveiled his new blueprint for higher education in Pennsylvania – focused on competitiveness and workforce development and grounded in access and affordability. Under the Governor’s plan, higher education will serve as an economic driver for Pennsylvania, prepare workers for the future, and address workforce shortages by:
Pennsylvania currently ranks 48th for affordability and 49th for state investment in higher education – and Governor Shapiro knows we must take action to improve access and opportunity for Pennsylvania students. To support this new system and address the historic lack of investment in Pennsylvania’s higher education system, the Governor’s 2024-25 budget proposes:
“With his new Blueprint for Higher Education, Governor Shapiro intends to help Pennsylvania’s postsecondary institutions to collaborate and innovate on behalf of current and future learners,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By giving learners the ability to chart their own course, we enable them to build their future on their own terms. By giving learners access to affordable postsecondary options aligned to workforce needs, we are providing them with infinite possibilities of success.”
“I believe in the promise of public education and that every student deserves the opportunity to chase their dreams and pursue their happiness in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Thanks to the bold leadership of Governor Shapiro, we now have a proposal that aims to modernize higher education in Pennsylvania, and it’s a much-needed initiative,” said Senator Judy Schwank. “There is a lot of hard work ahead, and I’m excited to partner with the Shapiro Administration to develop a public higher education system that effectively meets the needs of our students and the communities they call home.”
“I am looking forward to working with Governor Shapiro and his administration in helping students attain an affordable college education, while balancing the financial needs of the Commonwealth,” said Dr. Susan Looney, president of Reading Area Community College. “As always at Reading Area Community College, our first priority is, and will always remain, advancing the positive outcomes of our students and their families; and preparing them for successful careers in the workforce.”
“During my time at RACC, I have loved every minute of it and take pride in being able to attend this school every day. RACC provided me with these opportunities of growth that would not have been possible without it, and I am incredibly grateful for that. When the Governor and Secretary of Education come to town to visit a school that doesn’t get enough recognition, it makes a buzz,” said RACC student Jonathan Pensado. “For you gentlemen, the consensus was very positive. And it’s for a reason, you stand on the side of education, the side of human rights, and Governor Shapiro makes TikToks which is pretty cool.”
“My journey at RACC started a few years back. I was nervous to start because like many Latinos that come to the United States of America, I knew little to no English, not enough to hold a conversation. I decided that I must leave the fear and start because I wanted to do better, make my family proud, and more importantly make myself proud. I took ESL classes, and after completing them, I went on to do the prerequisites classes to be able to apply to become an Licensed Nurse Practitioner after completing my semesters and graduating,” said RACC student Wilfri Peña Rodriguez. “I am currently in my last semester of Nursing and am on my way to becoming a Registered Nurse. RACC has been fundamental in my journey. I will forever be grateful for the encouragement, guidance, and opportunities that I’ve received from teachers, staff, and friends that I’ve made along the way.”
For more information on how Governor Shapiro’s blueprint for higher education and proposed budget will create opportunity for Pennsylvanians and build affordable pathways to a college education, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov.
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Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that high school students from around the state are invited to participate in the seventh annual PennDOT Innovations ChallengeOpens In A New Window, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers. The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model.
For this year’s challenge, students are asked to develop a plan for the replacement of an aging multi-lane roadway that will reconnect previously separated neighborhoods and incorporates community needs, such as accommodating bicycle and pedestrian traffic, allowing for new business development and ensuring the smooth flow of traffic. The proposed solution should also consider additional costs to restore the affected community.
“The transportation planners of the future are key to reestablishing communities that have been disconnected by infrastructure,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “I’m confident we will see some fresh and creative solutions to this issue.”
Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT Secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winner. For this year’s challenge, the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC)Opens In A New Window has donated $2,500 and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA)Opens In A New Window has donated $1,500 for a combined total award of $4,000 to the statewide winning team.
“PennDOT is always looking for bright minds to join our team. I hope that participation in the Innovations Challenge will help steer a cohort of students to the possibilities of a future career in the transportation industry,” Carroll said.
For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.gov/innovationOpens In A New Window and click on the blue Innovations Challenge tile on the right side of the page. The submission deadline is Jan. 26, 2024.
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Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today announced the launch of the 2023-2024 PA Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program, with $1 million in funding available to help institutions of higher education (IHE) better serve their school communities.
“One of the best ways we can support our learners is by ensuring their basic needs are met, and that includes addressing food insecurity,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “The colleges and universities engaged in the Hunger-Free Campus Program are demonstrating their commitment to keeping students safe, healthy, and ready to learn, and this funding will help expand their efforts to benefit their campus communities as a whole.”
Interested applications should apply through the eGrants system. Additional information about the grant is available on the Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative webpage. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 11:59 PM. Award recipients will be notified in December 2023.
Through the 2023-2024 PA Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program, colleges with the PA Hunger-Free Campus or PA Hunger-Free Campus+ designation may apply for competitive funding in an amount up to:
The PA Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, supported and endorsed by First Lady Lori Shapiro, began in 2022. In his inaugural budget, Governor Josh Shapiro advocated for the continued $1 million to support postsecondary institutions’ efforts in addressing student hunger needs on campus. In 2023-24, the work will continue to build a coalition of colleges and universities focused on addressing hunger and other basic needs for their students; creating opportunities for connection among student hunger advocates; providing resources and strategies for campuses; and supporting opportunities to apply for grants related to addressing food insecurity. Fighting hunger for students at every age is a priority for the Shapiro Administration. That’s why Governor Shapiro advocated for and secured funding in this year’s budget to provide universal free breakfast to 1.7 million K-12 Pennsylvania students.
The PA Hunger-Free Campus Initiative builds a coalition of Pennsylvania institutions focused on addressing hunger and other basic needs for their students, creating opportunities for connection among student hunger advocates, providing resources and strategies for campuses, and supporting opportunities to apply for grants related to addressing food insecurity.
Postsecondary institutions that received a PA Hunger-Free Campus+ designation implemented additional innovative solutions to address student hunger and other basic needs for their campus community in conjunction with demonstrating additional criteria. Examples of these initiatives included offering a variety of meal plans, including an option that provides ten or fewer meals weekly to avoid interfering with SNAP eligibility, creating or implementing meal-sharing programs, educating student leaders on campus to develop student-centered programs, or facilitating innovative community partnerships.
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Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is urging Pennsylvania volunteer fire departments to ensure that a credentialed State Academy Fire Instructor is on site to supervise any live burn trainings that include 17-year-old junior firefighters – as required by an amendment to the Child Labor Act that went into effect in January.
While Act 155 of 2022 now permits 17-year-old junior firefighters to take part in live-burn interior firefighting training exercises, such training may only be conducted under the Pennsylvania State Academy Fire training system’s interior firefighting training module and only when a certified instructor is on site at all times. These minors must also have permission from a fire chief and from the minor’s parent or guardian to participate in such training. Fire companies in violation could be fined up to $5,000 per violation.
“The recent change in the law helps Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire companies recruit and train the next generation of volunteer firefighters, which is so important to the safety of our communities. But fire companies must likewise ensure the safety of these young volunteers by following proper safety protocols while training,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker.
This reminder comes after L&I’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance (BLLC) assessed fines against the Northumberland County Friendship Fire & Hose Co./Shamokin Fire Department for the fire companies’ failure to have a certified instructor on-site during a live burn training during which a 17-year-old volunteer firefighter suffering non-life-threatening burns.
The Friendship Fire & Hose Co./Shamokin Fire Department was fined $1,000 for the violation.
Act 155 does not permit minors to perform tasks prohibited by the Pennsylvania Child Labor Act, regardless of their level of training and education.
“The priority during any training event must be to ensure the safety of all those who are participating,” said State Fire Commissioner Tom Cook. “It is imperative that we do everything we can to provide high-quality training that is safe, and that it meets or exceeds national standards so that inexperienced and young firefighters can develop their skills without risk of injury.”
The Pennsylvania State Fire Academy, which is administered by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, provides rigorous and safe training courses online, at its training facility in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and through the Academy on the Road program. More information about the academy and its course offerings, including the Academy on the Road Program, is available online.
L&I’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance responds to all complaints filed by members of the public who suspect violations of the Child Labor Act and other Pennsylvania labor laws. Anyone can file a complaint on L&I’s website using an online submission form.
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