Laurel Highlands Today

Sen. Pat Stefano, Sen. Judy Schwank, Rep. Pat Harkins, and Rep. Shelby Labs will be shedding light on Pennsylvania's growing teacher shortage and its impact on early learning. The bipartisan, bi-cameral Early Childhood Education Caucus will address this issue on April 9th at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.

According to Sen. Stefano, "a growing teacher shortage, fueled by low compensation, is closing child care and pre-K classrooms and driving up waitlists for working families."

Sen. Judy Schwank emphasized the importance of addressing this crisis, stating, "We need to address the shortage of teachers and child care workers to ensure that every child has access to quality early learning opportunities."

Rep. Pat Harkins echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for urgent action, "The impact of the teacher shortage is significant, and we must act swiftly to support our early learning students and families."

Rep. Shelby Labs also stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, "It is crucial that we address the challenges facing our early learning system to provide a strong foundation for our children's future."

The event will feature updated survey data showcasing the extent of the crisis, with early learning students, teachers, parents, and advocates in attendance. Partnering organizations for the caucus include Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, and the PA Early Learning Investment Commission.

For more information, interested individuals can contact Amanda Cuteri from Sen. Stefano's office at 717-787-7175 or Spencer Thornburg from Sen. Schwank's office at 610-929-2151.