Kenyatta introduces Teacher Retention and Recruitment Tax Credit legislation

HARRISBURG, April 12 – State Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., and Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, are introducing legislation to help recruit and retain teachers in Pennsylvania schools.

According to a report published earlier this year by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, the pipeline of newly certified teachers has plunged by 67% since 2011. In Philadelphia alone, there were more than 200 unfilled teaching positions going into the current school year.

To combat this trend, Kenyatta and Samuelson are introducing legislation to create the Teacher Recruitment Tax Credit for new teachers who receive their certification and find employment as a teacher. In addition, this legislation would create the Teacher Retention Tax Credit for existing certified and employed teachers. This credit would provide a one-time Personal Income Tax credit of up to $2,500.

This legislation builds on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plan to address teacher shortages, which included the Personal Income Tax credit of up to $2,500 every year for up to three years for any newly certified teacher.

Kenyatta stressed how showing teachers forms of appreciation, like the $2,500 Personal Income Tax credit, can help keep them in Pennsylvania classrooms.

“Education is the building block for our children’s futures, and a crucial element in them receiving a quality education is having qualified teachers that remain in their classrooms for continued periods of time,” Kenyatta said. “Governor Shapiro laid out a bold vision to address the teacher storage crisis with this tax credit being a pillar of that. This is the least we can do to show our deep appreciation for educators across the commonwealth.”