We will soon introduce legislation that will help to recruit and retain caring and qualified education support professionals (ESPs) in Pennsylvania’s public schools by requiring public schools to pay a living wage of at least $20/hour.

Across the Commonwealth, schools are struggling to fill positions that are essential to the educational process. Whether it’s serving students lunches, safely transporting them to and from school, cleaning and maintaining buildings, providing care to students with disabilities, or working with teachers to provide students with extra instructional support in the classroom, these dedicated professionals help students succeed in school and in life.

Unfortunately, it is estimated that more than half of ESPs statewide are earning far below what is considered a living wage. This means that tens of thousands of dedicated support professionals are working full time in our schools, yet they are not earning enough to afford adequate shelter, food, and other basic necessities. To avoid falling into poverty, these Pennsylvanians are forced to take on multiple jobs, at the expense of their health and time with their families. In other cases, these caring professionals ultimately make the difficult decision to leave public school employment—jobs that they love—in pursuit of more attractive wages offered in the private sector.

It is critical that we attract caring and qualified individuals to fill vacant positions, and we must retain the dedicated support staff already working in our public schools. Unless and until we pay education support professionals what they are worth, the school staffing shortage will worsen. Too many local school communities have experienced chronic instability in the education workforce, which affects schools’ ability to function and students’ ability to learn. We can end this vicious cycle by showing these hardworking professionals respect, and that starts with requiring that public school employers pay wages that provide a dignified standard of living for those who provide essential supports to our students and schools.

Specifically, our legislation will require the Department of Labor and Industry to annually determine and post the living wage applicable to each public school entity. A living wage reflects the income necessary for an education support professional to sufficiently meet their basic needs based upon the region of the Commonwealth in which they are employed. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, public schools will be required to pay the ESPs a living wage or $20/hour, whichever is greater. School employers would not need to renegotiate existing collective bargaining agreements or employment contracts. Rather, through the 2029-30 school year, the Department of Education will reimburse schools for the costs to increase wages accordingly. Reimbursements will be added to districts' base allocations under the basic education funding formula to sustain these wages long-term.

It's time for policymakers to take bold and decisive action to address the school staffing crisis. What we are proposing does not provide for a luxurious lifestyle for these workers. A living wage will ensure that education support professionals can achieve self-sufficiency in exchange for their service and commitment to our system of public education. Please join us in cosponsoring this important legislation.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1027: P.L.30, No.14