Education provides our students with the foothold they need to climb the ladder of success and opens the doors of opportunity. A high-quality education gives them the foundation they need to embark on careers that offer family-sustaining wages, upward mobility, and financial freedom.

This freedom and pathway to economic opportunity is the vision Senate Republicans have for every Pennsylvanian. We want families to thrive despite financial challenges that arise, including the difficulties that stem from today’s overwhelming inflation. We don’t want families living paycheck-to-paycheck, trapped in low-wage jobs, and worrying they’re only one economic disaster – a medical emergency, car accident, or home water heater replacement – away from financial ruin.

It doesn’t take endless taxpayer investment to make this vision a reality. Simply writing bigger checks in hopes of improving students’ learning experiences has not and will not solve our educational problems. We must be strategic. This requires an acknowledgement of the system’s current shortcomings and a thoughtful approach to address them.

In 2022, language I sponsored to create the Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness (CEEC) was signed into law and this year, the CEEC began its important task of creating a vision of what our education system should look like if we are to truly meet the needs of students and prepare them for the jobs of today and tomorrow. 

The CEEC’s report is due November 2025 and will include findings and legislative recommendations from stakeholders representing education, business, labor, and government. This report will surely influence future legislative proposals as the state seeks to make systematic changes to improve not only our educational experience but the opportunities that will be available to working Pennsylvanians. 

While we wait for the long-term recommendations from the CEEC, we have advanced important education policies to address the needs of today.

First and foremost, we recognize that all children do not learn in the same way. Forcing them to work against their educational needs automatically puts them at a disadvantage, lowering their chances at success. We need to remove that barrier for them by giving families greater school choice.

To that end, we dedicated an additional $75 million for education tax credits to provide scholarships to students through the existing Education Improvement Tax Credit Program, raising it to a record $630 million. The funding gives families another education option if the student’s public school experience is not the best fit.

Pennsylvania is also experiencing an early literacy crisis, with reading scores plummeting and nearly half of fourth-grade students reading below their grade level. Studies show that childhood reading difficulties can produce long-term effects and dramatically impact someone’s chances of success. 

In response to these concerning trends, we worked with education groups and associations to pass legislation to provide schools with easily accessible resources that other states have successfully used to significantly boost their students’ reading and writing skills. These resources are rooted in the science of reading and have a proven track record of reversing poor literacy rates among struggling students.

We also understand the need to attract and retain great teachers who will ignite a love of learning in their students. Pennsylvania is experiencing a severe teacher shortage that, if unaddressed, will result in larger class sizes, more impersonal learning, and reduced access to courses and programs offered now. The last thing we want to do is take a step back.

With the $10 million we allocated to the PA Student Teacher Support Program, we’re seeking to eliminate a reason young people often cite as a deterrent to becoming a teacher – the financial strain of the twelve-week unpaid student teaching requirement. Student teaching is a full-time job, and students often aren’t able to obtain a part-time job to help them cover the costs of housing and travel to and from the school where they student teach. 

The student teacher stipend program gives $10,000 to eligible student teachers and $2,500 to their cooperating teachers. This year, more than 2,000 young men and women were selected to receive stipends, alleviating the traditional financial strain.

Finally, it’s not enough to train the right people to educate future generations. We also need to retain the best and brightest students. To encourage young people to put their roots down in Pennsylvania, the Grow PA program will offer $5,000 grants for students enrolled in high-demand educational programs if they live and work in Pennsylvania for at least twelve months for every year they accept the grant.

By modernizing our education system, giving students the opportunity to learn in an environment best suited to them, ensuring our younger students can read proficiently, addressing the state’s teacher shortage, and attracting and retaining talented graduates to put down their roots in Pennsylvania, Senate Republicans are working to give children the best chance at lifelong success.

Sen. Ryan Aument represents the 36th Senatorial District, covering part of Lancaster County.