To support schools with the Universal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) requirement in Pennsylvania for the upcoming school year, PHEAA Higher Education Access Partners will present information to educators and counselors on how to complete the FAFSA, deadlines for completion and resources available to assist schools with FAFSA completion.

This FAFSA overview event for educators and counselors will be presented by PHEAA and will be held on Tuesday, May 5 from 10am – 11am.

Please register for the webinar at the PHEAA FAFSA Overview Webinar webpage.

On April 15, 2026, Governor Josh Shapiro signed three executive orders to strengthen the rights and protections of Pennsylvanians with disabilities and autism. Under the Governor’s leadership, the Commonwealth has made historic investments in their support, care, and freedom to live on their own terms — and these executive orders build on that progress.

Effective immediately, the three executive orders will reaffirm the Commonwealth’s disability nondiscrimination policy, establish new data privacy protections, reauthorizes the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council, and create a new Governor’s advisory

OVR, housed within the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, has supported 76,000 Pennsylvanians with disabilities and strengthened partnerships with employers across the Commonwealth since 2023, expanding job placement services, pre-employment transition services, and on-the-job training opportunities.

The first Executive Order signed by Governor Shapirorescinds and replaces EO 2002-5, and is designed to protect the rights, dignity, and privacy of people with disabilities by reaffirming the Commonwealth’s longstanding nondiscrimination commitment and emphasizing the need that these protections require renewed attention and action, not just compliance. At a time when the federal government has proposed creating databases of Americans with Autism and their private, personal data, this order aims to ensure data collection by Commonwealth agencies is limited to the minimum data necessary and proper processes are followedby Commonwealth agencies, including collection in health care, research, and compliance in the law.

The Governor’s second Executive Order rescinds EO 2006-09 and EO 2016-03 and establishes the Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilitieswhich will consist of up to 30 volunteer members, appointed by the Governor, including individuals with disabilities, family members, or those with relevant expertise. They will serve two-year terms. The new commissioners will recommend policy changes across the disabilities spectrum, engage with federal/state/local agencies, communicate Administration initiatives to the public, and compile information on programs, funding, and additional supports to create an inclusive resource for individuals with disabilities and their family members across Pennsylvania.

At the signing ceremony, the Governor announced that his Administration is currently accepting applications for the Advisory Commission’s Executive Director position.

The third Executive Order rescinds EO 1997-2 and reestablishes the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council so that it can continue to fulfill Pennsylvania’s obligations under the federal Developmental Disabilities Act.

The independently-operated DD Council is more narrowly focused than the newly-created Commission, and will advise the Governor on all matters affecting individuals with developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania, and advocate for improved independence, productivity, and community inclusion. The Council will continue to develop and implement a statewide planand advocate for systemic change across the Commonwealth.

Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has been focused on ensuring Pennsylvanians with disabilities are represented in state government and have the resources to succeed and thrive on their own terms. His 2026-27 proposed budget continues this work by:

• Increasing state funding for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) by $1 million, bringing the total to $49.7 million, to serve more Pennsylvanians with disabilities.
• Investing $3 million into the modernization of PA Link, Pennsylvania’s Aging and Disability Resource Center network, to improve navigation of long-term services.
• Growing Special Education Funding by$50 million, totaling $1.58 billion, to support students with disabilities and special needs, through after-school programs, full-day pre-K and kindergarten, and more.

Currently, approximately 242,000 people receive intellectual and physical disability services in their homes or communities across the Commonwealth.

For more information on the new Commission, visit the website.
Read the Governor’s proposed budget in brief by clicking here.

Starting April 16, 2026, student teachers across the Commonwealth can now apply for a $10,000 stipend in the 2026-27 school year through the PA Student Teacher Support Program. Stipends are available on a first-come, first-served basis for future educators who enter a student teaching placement and commit to working in Pennsylvania as a teacher for three years. The program also provides up to $2,500 to cooperating teachers who mentor and assist student teachers.

In 2025-26, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) received more than 3,500 applications and provided stipends to 2,300 student teachers. Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2026-27 budget includes $5 million increase to PHEAA for stipends for student teachers, bringing total program funding to $35 million annually.

To be considered eligible, applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled in an institution of higher education located in Pennsylvania.
• Be currently enrolled in a PA Department of Education approved educator preparation program.
• Meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0.
• Be placed in a position as a student teacher at an approved location in Pennsylvania. Placement is not required at the time of application, but it is required by the placement deadline. Locations: School districts, intermediate units, non-public schools, area career and technical schools, charter schools, regional charter schools, or cyber charter schools.
• Have obtained the required clearances for employment in public or private schools in Pennsylvania.
• Agree to work as a teacher at a participating LEA or non-public school within Pennsylvania for a period of no less than 3 years.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. A permanent resident is defined as a non-citizen who is legally permitted to live and work in the United States permanently.
• Be placed in a non-paid position as a student teacher. Temporary substitute teaching is permitted but must not exceed 10 days during the student teaching term.

Applications are due September 15, 2026.

PHEAA was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1963 to provide affordable access to higher education for PA students and families. Through the years, PHEAA has evolved into one of the nation’s leading providers of student financial aid services, including the Commonwealth’s first state-based student loan program—PA Forward Student Loans. PHEAA also serves millions of students through its loan guaranty, loan servicing, financial aid processing, and other programs.

On April 14, 2026. the PA House passed HB 2400, the PA House Budget proposal. The bill contains nearly $700 million to help close long‑standing funding gaps among PA school districts. This is the third year of increased funding for Pennsylvania schools. All 102 House Democrats were joined by five Republicans to pass the budget with a 107-92 vote.

Nearly 80% of the budget’s expenditures are dedicated to just two state agencies: the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) with $21.9 billion and the PA Department of Education (PDE) with $20.6 billion. Roughly $1 billion of the increase to DHS will fund Medicaid increases, which Democrats said will shrink if the state increases the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour, which is the federal minimum, to $15 per hour.

The budget proposal now moves on to the PA Senate where Republican leadership has stated that the budget will not pass in its current form. Last year, disagreements between Senate Republicans and House Democrats over spending caused the budget to be passed 135 days past the June 30th deadline.

On April 15, 2026, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Amy Lena highlighted the importance of investing in career and technical education (CTE) and how those investments are expanding access to CTE in Pennsylvania schools and have helped 3,000 additional students across the Commonwealth enroll in CTE classes.

Since 2023, the Shapiro Administration has increased funding in CTE by $65 million – nearly 50 percent – helping to expand access for students, not only in career and technical centers (CTCs), but also through CTE programs right in their high schools. As a result, CTE enrollment has continued to grow under the administration, with more than 3,000 additional students engaging in CTE and career readiness programming.

An example of the effective use of this funding is Williamsport Area High School. The school offers 15 different CTE programs, including an Educator Rising program which was created under with the use of such funding in 2023 to engage and prepare secondary students interested in pursuing a career in education. At Williamsport, the program is designed for students who aspire to become educators, and provides a comprehensive foundation in teaching and learning through coursework such as Methods in Education, Developmental Psychology, Educational Technology, Neuroscience in Education, and more. The district also offers a Classroom Management Simulator for current educators and staff in the district, allowing them to practice management techniques and instructional strategies through six different scenarios they may encounter in the classroom.

Subsequently, during the 2024-25 budget cycle, Williamsport Area School District (WASD) was able to use more than $700,000 in adequacy funding to continue expanding and establishing CTE programs in their high school, including a state-of-the-art $3 million welding lab.

For more on how (WASD) has enhanced CTE programming, click here.