Harrisburg
Pennsylvania
What People Are Saying About Governor Shapiro’s Commonsense Budget Investments in Workforce Development to Tackle Pennsylvania’s Shortages of Child Care Workers, Rural Health Care Workers, Teachers, and Nurses
Government and Politics
March 7, 2025
From: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro“Child care is the workforce behind the workforce. If our teachers aren’t here, the parents who rely on us can’t show up for their jobs either.”
“I appreciate Governor Shapiro’s commitment to strengthening the rural workforce and investing in the health care services our communities need."
“With the educator shortage in our state, this stipend allows aspiring teachers to receive the training they need and gives more people the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children’s lives."
“Governor Shapiro’s proposal will be a game-changer by reducing student debt and strengthening the nursing pipeline to address this shortage.”
Harrisburg, PA – Across Pennsylvania, workforce shortages in child care, health care, and education are holding back the economy and making it harder for families and communities to access the services they rely on. Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 proposed budget delivers commonsense solutions to address these challenges and strengthen the child care, rural health care, education, and nursing workforces. The Governor has called on the General Assembly to join him in making these strategic, commonsense investments to strengthen the Commonwealth’s workforce.
In the past two weeks, Governor Shapiro has visited communities all across the Commonwealth, hearing directly from those who will benefit most from these investments:
- Expanding the Child Care Workforce: At The Perception Training Center in Schuylkill County, the Governor highlighted a $55 million investment in workforce recruitment and retention grants for child care workers in the Child Care Works (CCW) Program. This investment would build on his efforts to make child care more affordable, expanding tax credits that have saved 218,000 families over $136 million.
- Strengthening Rural Health Care: At Bradford County’s Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, the Governor outlined his plan to invest $10 million to prevent rural hospital closures and expand loan repayment programs for health care workers. Building on a successful model, his Administration has already invested $40 million in loan repayment assistance, supporting nearly 675 professionals in Pennsylvania’s drug and alcohol treatment field.
- Supporting Student Teachers: With 5,500 teacher vacancies statewide, the Governor visited Farmersville Elementary School in Northampton County to discuss doubling funding for the PA Student Teacher Support Program to $40 million annually, helping more student teachers complete their training and enter classrooms. This initiative has already helped 2,240 student teachers complete their mandatory, in-the-classroom training.
- Building a Strong Nursing Workforce: At Temple Women & Families in Philadelphia, the Governor highlighted the new $5 million Nurse Shortage Assistance Program, which would cover tuition for nursing students who commit to working in Pennsylvania hospitals for three years — reducing turnover and strengthening the pipeline of trained professionals.
Read what child care workers, parents, health care and education professionals, teachers, community leaders, and legislators are saying about Governor Shapiro’s budget proposals in workforce development:
Michelle Dallago, owner and executive director of The Perception Training Early Learning, Inc: “Child care is the workforce behind the workforce. If our teachers aren’t here, the parents who rely on us can’t show up for their jobs either. When we began advocating to recruit and retain child care and early learning teachers, my goal was simple: to shift the mindset that education doesn’t start in kindergarten — it starts at birth.”
President and CEO of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Bob Carl: “This crisis is not just an inconvenience — it’s an economic issue. Without childcare, parents can’t work, and our economy suffers. Childcare workers are the workforce behind the workforce, and we’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact they have on our communities.”
Meridith Driscoll, a parent whose children attend Perception Early Learning: “I have two little ones, and this issue is close to my heart. I didn’t realize how important it was until I had kids, and many people don’t. As a small business owner, I couldn’t work from home without reliable care for my kids. It’s not just daycare — they’re learning, growing, and this place feels like family.”
Senator David Argall: “This is a great news story — business, labor, employers, employees, and Republicans and Democrats all supporting the Governor’s investment in child care providers. It’s a win for everyone — especially the kids, who benefit so much from programs like this. When you have something good, we must invest in it; we don’t want to see it fade away. It’s a win for working families, employers who rely on their employees showing up, and preschool teachers who are encouraged to stay in their vital roles. This is good for the entire community. Governor, this has my full support — let’s get it done.”
Representative Tim Twardzik: “Affordable, high-quality childcare is essential for children’s well-being, the stability of working families, and our economy. Parents need reliable child care to advance their careers, and we need people to care for our youngest Pennsylvanians. Supporting the child care workforce helps providers attract great employees, creating more spots for families and strengthening communities. This investment is a win for families, businesses, and Pennsylvania’s future. We must make child care more affordable and accessible, and I look forward to working together to make that happen.”
Barbara Vanaskie, a SUD loan repayment program awardee: "As a licensed clinical social worker, and for 12 years now, I’ve served rural communities in Lycoming and Clinton counties. This loan repayment program has lifted the burden of student loans, allowing me and others to focus on what matters — helping people. Governor Shapiro is expanding this life-changing model to support more health care professionals across Pennsylvania, ensuring they can stay in their jobs, serve their communities, and strengthen our workforce.”
Kevin Gibbs, a former patient at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital who now works at the hospital as a security officer: "In June 2022, a Harley ride with my wife turned into a life-threatening accident when I hit a deer just a mile from home. I was flown by Guthrie Air to Robert Packer Hospital, where the trauma team, EMS crew, and ICU staff saved my life. Their heroic efforts allowed me to recover, and today, I’m proud to give back as a security officer at Guthrie. We are fortunate to have this level of care in our community, and we need a dedicated workforce across Pennsylvania to save more lives."
President and CEO of the Guthrie Clinic Dr. Sabanegh: "Guthrie’s commitment to quality, safe patient care and experience drives us to be a national model for rural healthcare. Our caregivers are the lifeline of this care, and we are laser-focused on recruiting and retaining top talent through competitive wages and family-friendly benefits. We appreciate Governor Shapiro’s leadership in strengthening the rural health care workforce.”
Chief Nurse Executive for Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital Deb Raupers: “Guthrie thanks Governor Shapiro for including a $5 million investment in the Nursing Shortage Assistance Program in his proposed budget. This funding will make a huge difference by supporting students from top higher education institutions across Pennsylvania. Through this program, their tuition is covered, and in return, they commit to working at a designated health system like Guthrie for up to three years. By strengthening this pipeline, we are enhancing our workforce, fostering the next generation of nurses, and laying the foundation for clinical excellence and leadership at Guthrie."
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacey Garrity: "Access to quality healthcare is critical to the success of our Commonwealth. Every Pennsylvanian deserves the peace of mind that they can get the care they need close to home. As a lifelong Bradford County resident and trustee of Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, I commend Governor Shapiro’s commitment to ensuring our families, friends, and neighbors in rural Pennsylvania are not left behind. Supporting rural hospitals and the dedicated healthcare workers who serve these communities is essential to our state's future."
Senator Gene Yaw: "The Center for Rural Pennsylvania released a population projection showing that by 2050, much of the state’s growth will shift southeast—while areas like my district, including Bradford County, are projected to lose population if nothing changes. That’s why investing in rural healthcare is critical. Declining populations impact emergency services, healthcare, broadband, and more. I’m tired of rural Pennsylvania being overlooked, and I’ll fight to make sure it’s supported. I appreciate Governor Shapiro’s commitment to strengthening the rural workforce and investing in the healthcare services our communities need."
Representative Tina Pickett: "Workforce is the foundation that makes everything else work. That’s why Governor Shapiro, this proposed budget, and hopefully we in the legislature are committed to creating incentives that help systems like this attract the talented professionals they need. While we’re here to celebrate progress, there’s always more to do. Expanding broadband and strengthening healthcare in rural areas are essential. We love our rural communities — that’s why we must ensure they have the healthcare systems they need to thrive."
Giavanna DeMarco, a student teacher who received a stipend: "Thanks to this stipend, I’m able to focus solely on my students and learning support. I’ve been welcomed into a community that operates as a well-connected team, allowing me to provide high-quality support and help students defy expectations. With the educator shortage in our state, this stipend allows aspiring teachers to receive the training they need and gives more people the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children’s lives."
Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Dr. Jack Silva: “A major goal of our school district is to attract and retain a high-quality, diverse teaching workforce where every classroom is led by an excellent role model teacher. We’ve made a lot of progress, but one thing that holds us back is the financial burden of student teaching, which is essentially an unpaid internship that future teachers struggle to afford. That’s why our district and community strongly support Governor Shapiro’s effort to expand student teacher stipends. These stipends are crucial tools that will help build the future workforce of the Bethlehem Area School District and invest in the long-term success of our community."
Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) Vice President Jeff Ney: "I am so proud to represent the 177,000 PSEA members across Pennsylvania, including about 7,000 student PSEA members — they were a driving force behind the creation of the Student Teacher Support Program. They met with their elected leaders, shared their stories, and made the case for this life-changing program. You all listened to them. You heard the stories of our student PSEA members, and you took decisive action. The Student Teacher Support Program has removed a major barrier to becoming an educator in Pennsylvania, and it has created a strong incentive for aspiring educators to stay and teach right here in our state."
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Senior Vice President Nathan Hench: “PHEAA is proud to be a partner in the PA Student Teacher Support Program, a valuable initiative that helps ease the financial burden on student teachers as they complete their in-classroom experience. We look forward to another year of supporting Pennsylvania’s future educators as they complete this critical step in their training."
Senator Lisa Boscola: “In his budget address this past February, the Governor made education a key priority, and this stipend program is just one important piece of that effort. The future of our communities depends on teaching — we need an educated workforce, and it all starts with our teachers. That’s why I’m standing here alongside the Governor today — he gets it, he works across the aisle to get things done, and he leads with common sense."
Senator Nick Miller: "Education is my top priority, and in the Senate Democratic Caucus, we deliver for education. We need to invest in our facilities, strengthen the student teacher pipeline, and ensure every aspiring educator has the support they need."
House Majority Education Committee Chairman Representative Peter Schweyer: “What’s remarkable is that more students are now considering careers in education, something we didn’t see just a few years ago. One of the biggest reasons for this shift is the bipartisan commitment — between Democrats and Republicans, the House and Senate, and Governor Shapiro’s administration — to breaking down barriers and making it easier for aspiring educators to enter the profession."
Representative Steve Samuelson: “I want to thank Governor Shapiro for being such a champion of education. His three budgets have each set historic highs for education funding — $1.1 billion in additional funding for education across Pennsylvania. The student teacher stipend program is a key part of this effort. It helps more students consider a career in teaching, eases the financial burden during that crucial semester, and will have a lasting impact on the young people those future teachers will influence for many years to come."
Maura Cabry, a senior nursing student: “I am so grateful to be here and to thank Governor Shapiro for proposing investments in a nursing assistance program, like the one here at Temple, which I hope will benefit other nursing students as well. The burden of student loan debt is something many of us fear, but knowing I have a guaranteed position at Temple and support to repay my student loans has completely transformed my career and my life.”
President and CEO of Temple University Health System Michael Young: “The demand for nurses is growing — the U.S. will need to hire more than one million nurses in the coming years while nearly 900,000 are expected to leave the profession. Governor Shapiro’s proposed Nurse Shortage Assistance Program will help expand our workforce, reduce hospital staffing costs, and support aspiring nurses on their career paths.”
Chief Nursing Executive of Temple University Health System Chaudron Carter Short: “I am incredibly proud to lead a nursing team dedicated to our patients and the profession. These initiatives combined makes nursing education more accessible and builds a stronger workforce. Governor Shapiro’s proposal will be a game-changer by reducing student debt and strengthening the nursing pipeline to address this shortage.”
Senator Tina Tartaglione: “Right now, we are facing a critical shortage of nurses and health care professionals. That shortage isn’t just a problem for hospitals — it’s a problem for every working family in Pennsylvania. I’m so grateful for the Governor’s leadership in putting forward a budget that takes these challenges seriously, especially considering the uncertainty above us in Washington.”
See what Pennsylvanians are reading about Governor Shapiro’s budget proposals in workforce development:
Expanding the Child Care Workforce
Republican Herald: Gov. Shapiro visits Pottsville to promote childcare funding plan
WNEP: Governor Shapiro discusses child care investments in Schuylkill County
WFMZ: Gov. Josh Shapiro proposes $55m plan for childcare worker bonuses in Pennsylvania
Strengthening Rural Health Care & Building a Strong Nursing Workforce
Supporting Student Teachers
Lehigh Valley News: Gov. Shapiro visits Lehigh Valley to tout grants for student teachers
CBS3: Gov. Josh Shapiro pushing to get more teachers in Pennsylvania classrooms
WOLF: Governor Shapiro pushes to double funding for teacher support amid statewide vacancies