A coalition of more than 60 organizations is calling on Pennsylvania lawmakers and the Shapiro Administration to fully fund the state’s student teacher stipend program.

In a letter sent to legislators, the group urged the inclusion of $50–55 million for the program in this year’s final budget.

The letter’s signatories include education advocacy groups, colleges and universities, workforce development organizations, and business leaders.

They point to high demand for the stipend as a sign of the program’s importance in supporting prospective teachers.

The stipend program, created in 2023 with bipartisan support, provides $10,000 to student teachers who commit to teaching in Pennsylvania for three years after graduation.

Those working in schools that are difficult to staff are eligible for an additional $5,000.

Supporters argue the funding helps cover essential living expenses during student teaching, a period when most candidates are unpaid.

Some eligible student teachers reportedly did not receive stipends in the program’s first year, which advocates say created inequities.

The coalition is asking lawmakers to allocate full funding to ensure all eligible student teachers can benefit in the 2025–26 school year.

The effort is part of a broader push by #PANeedsTeachers, a statewide coalition led by Teach Plus and the National Center on Education and the Economy, to address teacher workforce shortages across the state.