Category: News

Gov. Shapiro Issues Executive Order Creating Opportunities by Prioritizing Work Experience for State Government (January 18, 2023)

Once inaugurated as Pennsylvania’s 48th governor, Gov. Josh Shapiro issued Executive Order 2023-03 – Creating Opportunities by Prioritizing Work Experience for State Government Jobs. The January 18, 2023 document states that, “Effective immediately, 92% of all Commonwealth jobs do not require a four-year degree, roughly equivalent to 65,000 jobs. Consistent with this Administration’s commitment to emphasizing skills and experience, job postings will begin with equivalent experience needed in lieu of a college degree whenever possible.

The order goes on to state that, “The Secretary of Administration, for the remaining 8% of Commonwealth jobs, shall identify the job classifications within the Commonwealth’s classification plan that require applicants to possess a college degree. Thereafter, the Secretary of Administration shall conduct a review to determine which job classifications are appropriate to include practical experience, in lieu of, or in addition to, a four-year college degree requirement. In conducting the review, the Secretary of Administration shall work with subject matter experts from the affected Commonwealth agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction. Upon completion of the review, the Secretary of Administration shall recommend to the Executive Board revisions to the Commonwealth’s classification plan.

To access the executive order, click here.

Dr. Mumin Named New PA Ed. Secretary (January 11, 2023)

On January 9th, Governor-elect Josh Shapiro named Dr. Khalid Mumin, superintendent of the Lower Merion School District, as the commonwealth’s new education secretary. Dr. Mumin has led Lower Merion for the past year and was formerly the superintendent at Reading, where he was named Pennsylvania’s Superintendent of the Year in 2021. Dr. Mumin will be sworn in as acting secretary of education on January 17th. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University, a master’s degree from Penn State, and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

For more from the Philadelphia Inquirer, click here. 

PA State Board of Ed Holds January Meeting (January 11, 2023)

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, the PA State Board of Education met at PDE in Harrisburg and via Zoom. The Board heard reports from the Academic Standards (Chapter 4) Committee and the Teacher and School Leader Committee. The Chapter 4 committee directed PDE to assign external advisors to both the Career Ed. and Work  Committee and the Family and Consumer Science and Economics Committee. The Teacher and Leader Committee’s PA Education Workforce Committee has focused on Act 55 issues with regard to the retention and attraction of instructors to the field of education. Of particular note is work in developing an extensive plan of action to address the decline educators in the commonwealth. Specifically mentioned was the Grow Your Own initiative and efforts towards encouraging paraprofessionals and others in the education setting to pursue teacher certification.

Excitement was also expressed with regard to the newly created CTE Pathway for opportunities in the field of education, which will be rolled out in 2023.

Acting secretary Eric Hagarty reported that Dr. Khalid Mumin has been appointed by incoming Governor Josh Shapiro to be the state’s new Secretary of Education.

Action items included approving the Board’s Annual Report to the Governor and General Assembly and a Resolution Honoring Acting Secretary Hagarty, who will be stepping down on January 17th. Both items were unanimously approved.

Gov. Wolf Calls for Special Session to Prioritize Increased Statute of Limitations for Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse (January 9, 2023)

On January 6, 2023 Governor Tom Wolf issued a proclamation calling for a special session of the General Assembly to be held on Monday, January 9, 2023, to propose a constitutional amendment to retroactively extend the timeline for victims of childhood sexual abuse to file civil actions.

“For far too many Pennsylvanians, justice and healing for the pain they’ve experienced is out of reach,” said Gov. Wolf. “This special session is a critical step to allow the General Assembly to focus their work on this important, and potentially life-saving, task. No survivor should be denied the chance to hold their abuser accountable, regardless of how much time has passed.”

At the special session, the governor is calling on the General Assembly to complete the constitutionally required second passage of last session’s House Bill 14 to ensure that the voters have their say in this May’s election. The process was already restarted when they passed House Bill 14 last session.

The governor is asking the General Assembly to pass the joint resolution no later than Friday, January 27, 2023. This timeframe would ensure the PA Department of State can meet the publication requirements so that voters have the opportunity to consider the amendment in May 2023.

In August 2022, Gov. Wolf and legislative leaders agreed that the constitutional amendment process is the best path forward.

PDE Awards $5 Million in Grants to Support Teacher and Principal Prep (January 9, 2023)

On January 6, 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that it has awarded $5 million in grant funding to support Pennsylvania’s educator workforce and increase the number and diversity of teachers and school leaders.

“In order to bolster our educator workforce, we must create the conditions for teachers and school leaders to learn, grow, and thrive in their chosen career,” said Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty. “The funding awarded in these three grant programs will complement recommended policy changes and stakeholder engagement efforts by preparing current and future educators to serve learners of all ages across the commonwealth.”

The Aspiring to Educate STEM-Computer Science (A2E STEM-CS) grant program uses PAsmart funds to make simultaneous progress to diversify the teacher workforce and increase the number, diversity, and cultural awareness of STEM-CS teachers. View the A2E STEM-CS awardees. 

The Innovative Principal Prep 2 Practice grant program provides awards of up to $100,000 to approved educator-preparation programs so they can build innovative partnerships with LEAs that improve the “prep to practice” linkage in the preparation of school leaders. View the Principal Prep 2 Practice awardees.

The Innovative Teacher Prep 2 Practice grant program provides funding to stimulate the creation of highly cohesive and innovative clinical experiences for teachers that make explicit connections across the three stages of clinical experience: as first-year candidates, during their capstone clinicals, and induction. View the Teacher Prep 2 Practice awardees.

Click to view PDE’s educator workforce strategy. 
For more information about Pennsylvania’s education policies and programs, please visit the Department of Education’s website.