The beginning of a successful carer requires a solid foundation and proper resources to achieve early successes. Nowhere is that more important than in the field of education, especially for individuals taking their first steps in the teaching profession. That is why I plan to introduce legislation that would establish the Newly Employed Teachers Grant Program within the Department of Education.
 
The legislation would provide an opportunity for newly employed teachers to be able to request no more than $500 in grant funds to assist in setting up their classrooms. Subject to Department of Education guidelines, grant funds would be used for essential classroom materials or specific educational projects like STEM, literacy or foreign languages.  Grant funds would be administered by an online ecommerce platform, subject to the Commonwealth’s public bidding requirements. Pennsylvania would join states like Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Utah in providing grants directly to classrooms to support teachers and students.
 
Pennsylvania teachers understand their students’ needs and know how to tailor their classrooms to create an engaging and effective learning experience. Please join me in sponsoring legislation that would help teachers begin their journey into the profession by providing valuable resources for their classrooms.