PSEA researches, lobbies and educates the public and members on these critical issues. The organization takes positions and provides a wealth of information to help members understand and take action on these issues.

You can find background, PSEA positions, research and other information on these issues:

• Class Size
• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
• High-Stakes Testing
• Living Wage
• Pensions
• Race to the Top
• School Funding
• School Vouchers

PSEA-PACE works to elect leaders who will stand with EA members on the issues they care about most:

• Protecting Your Pension – PSEA-PACE works to ensure we elect leaders who will protect the pensions we’ve earned – and paid for.
• Ending High-Stakes Testing – PSEA-PACE works to elect leaders who understand that students are more than just a test score, and will oppose test scores being tied to furloughs.
• Restoring Education Funding – PSEA-PACE supports candidates for office who understand the value of an adequately funded public education system; a system that encourages student growth, development, and creativity, not just memorizing answers for a test.
• Holding Charter Schools Accountable and Stopping Voucher Proliferation – PSEA-PACE supports candidates who will ensure that charter schools are held to the same standards as other public schools, and will prevent resources from being siphoned away from public schools through vouchers.
• Letting Educators Have a Say in Education Policy – PSEA-PACE supports candidates who will give educators a role in crafting the policies that affect our classrooms.

PSEA-PACE’s long-term goal is to create a pro-public education majority in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. Achieving this goal requires the election of 102 pro-public education representatives and 26 pro-public education senators. Currently, only 98 representatives are considered propublic education, and only 23 senators are pro-public education. The 2016 elections are of critical importance for public education. With your support, we have a real opportunity to build a lasting pro-public education majority in each chamber by picking up at least four more pro-public education seats in the House of Representatives and three pro-public education seats in the State Senate.

2016-17 state budget

The state budget is always complicated and frequently includes issues that aren't related to the budget, but that pass along with it. This year, PSEA members beat back a number of bills that would have been bad for our schools, our students, and our profession. Here's a scorecard to keep track.

WIN. School Funding. The budget includes a $200 million increase in basic education funding, $20 million more for special education, and another $30 million for pre-kindergarten. These investments are short of what Gov. Wolf proposed in February, but are significant increases for cash-strapped schools, and a positive step toward the funding levels schools need and students deserve.

WIN. School Funding Formula. PSEA was at the forefront of a coalition that pushed for a new, fair funding formula for our schools. Gov. Wolf signed that bill into law last month, and the formula it includes will drive out this year's school funding increases. Right now, Pennsylvania is 46th in the nation in state funding to public schools and dead last in equity. This new formula will go a long way to correcting this. Find out how it impacts your school here.

School Code Changes. Mixed Bag. The School Code bill that landed on the governor's desk includes more than two dozen issues. Unfortunately, one provision expands the number of people who can administer insulin in schools, which PSEA opposed. But it also authorizes a new provisional vocational education certificate, something we've been supporting for years. Just as important is what's not in this bill. A law change to make it easier to furlough experienced educators based on the untested new evaluation system didn't go the distance, which is a big win for PSEA.

DRAW. Pension Attacks. The Legislature left town for the summer without putting a pension bill on Gov. Wolf's desk. But this fight isn't over. The House passed a pension bill two weeks ago, and the Senate voted to take the bill to a conference committee in an effort to work out differences between the House and Senate. Lawmakers are definitely going to try and move some kind of pension bill in the fall.

WIN. Payroll Deduction. For years now, some lawmakers have been focused on passing a bill to take away our right to pay union dues through voluntary payroll deductions. This is part of their strategy to bully us and weaken our union. However, the Legislature adjourned without taking the bill up in the House.

Become an ACE
In the ACE program, members work in teams to promote the rights of students, teachers, retirees, and education support professionals on issues ranging from health care to working conditions and from school funding to job security. By participating in the ACE program, you can join the growing number of members who are educating legislators on issues that affect public education, students, and their professions.

The ACE program is a grassroots effort designed to empower members to become advocates for their profession and for students in our public schools.

If you would like to become an ACE, or would like more information, please contact Jennifer Statler (jstatler@psea.org or 1-800-944-7732).