As schools open for the 2022-23 school year, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Acting Secretary Eric Hagarty and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA) are highlighting the critical role that school bus drivers play across the commonwealth.

“As we work to ensure that students in all areas—rural, urban, and suburban alike—have access to a high-quality education, we must also provide access to safe, reliable transportation to and from school,” said Acting Secretary Hagarty. “School bus drivers are critical in that mission, and PDE is committed to supporting this industry as it works to recruit individuals to the workforce.”

Currently, there is a need for between 2,000 and 3,000 drivers in Pennsylvania and  PSBA has been working to address the driver shortage by launching a multi-faceted recruitment campaign. PSBA developed YouBehindTheWheel.com, a microsite designed to educate people about the school bus industry and get them interested in becoming a driver, and SchoolBusHero.com, a free job portal that PSBA members can use to advertise open positions in their company. The organization also created a digital ad campaign, a Facebook ad campaign, and a YouTube ad campaign, which have been viewed collectively millions of times across the commonwealth.

Individuals interested in becoming bus drivers can fill out the PA School Bus Driver Interest Form online.

The Pennsylvania School Bus Association consists of over 300 school transportation contractors and industry partners who have come together to be a strong voice for school transportation safety and the school transportation contracting industry. Its mission is to provide programs, education, and services to promote and foster the highest degree of safety in the transportation of school children and strengthen the quality of student transportation through professional management.

For more information about Pennsylvania’s education policies and programs, please visit the PDE website.

To view the press release, click here.

Legislative leaders have agreed to work toward a swift second passage of a constitutional amendment, early next legislative session, that would open a two-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits.

According to Gov. Wolf, “After speaking directly with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle, I’m pleased that they have committed to prioritize second passage of a constitutional amendment early next session. I am grateful for this agreement so that survivors can seek a path forward toward justice.”

In 2021, the General Assembly approved a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution to provide for a two-year window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file previously time-barred claims. Constitutional amendments must be approved during two consecutive legislative sessions before being put on the ballot, so the constitutional amendment could be on the ballot for the voters to decide in 2023.

Senator Lisa Baker has pledged to push through the constitutional amendment as soon as possible in the new session and, because the outcome of a referendum on an amendment is never certain, she will also introduce legislation to make the change statutorily, if necessary.

The new legislative session begins January 2023.

To view the press release, click here.

​The Department of Health (PDH) announced that vaccine providers across the state are prepared to begin administering updated COVID-19 booster vaccines as soon as they receive them. The vaccines, which provide additional protection against the original coronavirus and Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, were recently approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after receiving emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. 
The new Pfizer vaccine is available to individuals 12 years of age and older, while the new Moderna booster shot is available to people 18 years of age and older.  
“The updated COVID-19 booster shots will help restore protection that may have waned since previous vaccinations and provide added protection against the Omicron variant, including the highly transmissible BA.4 and BA.5 strains,” Acting Health Secretary and Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said. “Vaccine providers across Pennsylvania have already requested the updated vaccines, which will begin arriving in Pennsylvania as early as today and continue after Labor Day. If you are eligible, please reach out to your local vaccine provider to schedule an appointment.” 
The CDC specifies that people must have already received their primary vaccination series (two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson) to be eligible for the new updated booster shot. Individuals are also required to wait at least two months since completing their primary series or a booster shot before being eligible to receive the updated booster vaccine. 
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines target both the original SARS CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. Specifically, one part of the vaccine targets the spike protein of the original strain of the virus, while the second part targets another form of the spike protein found in BA.4 and BA.5 variants. 
PDH also notes that the CDC has advised people 12 and older who have already scheduled appointments for the original booster vaccine to reschedule the appointment and ask for the updated shot. The original vaccines are no longer authorized for use as boosters for people 12 years of age and older. Those vaccines, however, are still to be used for those beginning or finishing the primary series. 

To view the press release, click here.