FAQ

Organizational Resources

HOW IS THE PROGRAM BEING IMPLEMENTED?

This is a three-party agreement program. Students are first invited to complete a student application. Based on the student's information (on a first-come, first-served basis by term), PHEAA contacts the student's self-identified institution of higher education (IHE) to confirm eligibility, enrollment, and fall or spring placement.

We then engage with the relevant local education agency (LEA) or non-public school to seek completion of the participation agreement and the Automated Clearing House (ACH) information.

WHAT ARE THE LEA'S OR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL'S RESPONSIBILITIES?

To participate, the LEA or non-public school is responsible for:

  • Completing the required paperwork (including ACH)
  • Receiving the disbursement from PHEAA
  • Dispensing the stipend to the student teacher
  • Connecting PHEAA with the cooperating teacher
  • Confirming completion of student teaching

To do this, LEAs will receive disbursement and reconciliation rosters to certify.

WHAT ARE THE IHE'S RESPONSIBILITIES?
IHEs must verify the student's eligibility and place them at approved LEAs or non-public schools. IHEs will also receive a disbursement from PHEAA to dispense the cooperating teacher stipends.
WHAT DO THE LEA OR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL AGREE TO WHEN THEY SIGN THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT?
Please reference the program guidelines for information on the LEA's and non-public school's responsibilities for the program.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS TO THE STUDENT TEACHER IF THE LEA OR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL DOES NOT PARTICIPATE?
Students placed at an LEA or non-public school that does not participate will not be eligible to receive the stipend.
HOW SHOULD AN LEA OR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL PAY THE STUDENT TEACHERS?
Please reference the program guidelines for more information.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS ON WHEN AND HOW TO PAY THE STUDENT TEACHERS?
Students should be paid 100% of the stipend when the LEA receives the disbursement from PHEAA.
THROUGH WHAT METHOD WILL COMMUNICATION GO OUT TO THE LEA, NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL, IHE, STUDENT TEACHER, AND COOPERATING TEACHER?
All communication for the program is provided via email from the program mailbox StudentTeacherSupport@pheaa.org.
HOW MANY FALL SEMESTER STUDENT TEACHERS WILL RECEIVE A STIPEND?
All fall semester student teachers who applied by the date of selection will receive a stipend. If more funding becomes available, we will select additional students.
AS AN LEA, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR STUDENT TEACHER THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PROVISIONALLY APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. WHAT MUST WE DO?
If an eligible student teacher has been placed at your location, you must complete and return a PA Student Teacher Support Program Participation Agreement and ACH form. If you have questions about the Participation Agreement, please contact us at StudentTeacherSupport@pheaa.org.
WILL THE STUDENT TEACHER AND COOPERATING TEACHER STIPEND COME FROM PHEAA?

We will not directly pay the cooperating teacher or student teacher.

Student Teachers: Will be paid through the LEA. In order to receive funds, LEAs must submit a complete Participation Agreement. Failure to complete the Participation Agreement will lead to a delay in payment to the student teacher. If the Participation Agreement is never completed, the student teacher will not be eligible to participate and will not receive a stipend.

Cooperating Teachers: Will be paid through IHE. LEAs have no responsibility when it comes to paying cooperating teachers. The cooperating teacher payment will not be counted toward retirement and LEAs will not have to make additional contributions related to PSERS.

AS AN LEA, HOW CAN WE HELP PREPARE THE STUDENT TEACHER TO RECEIVE THEIR STIPEND?
After submitting the Participation Agreement and the ACH form, LEAs should work with the student teachers to complete any additional paperwork necessary for the LEA to issue the stipend before receiving the funds from PHEAA.

Eligibility

I AM COMPLETING MY STUDENT TEACHING DURING THE 2023-24 ACADEMIC YEAR. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE PA STUDENT TEACHER SUPPORT PROGRAM AWARD?

No. The PA Student Teacher Support Program will be available to student teachers beginning with the 2024-25 academic year (fall and spring terms).

What happens if I withdraw or fail student teaching?

Student teachers who do not complete their student teaching after receiving an award will be required to return the award.

I will start student teaching in Pennsylvania in fall 2024 and intend to teach in Pennsylvania after graduation. However, my postsecondary institution is not located in Pennsylvania. Will I be eligible for an award?

No. One of the eligibility requirements for the PA Student Teacher Support Program is that student teachers must be currently enrolled in an institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

I will begin student teaching in spring 2025. Should I apply in April 2024 when the application becomes available?

Yes! All student teachers for the 2024-25 academic year are encouraged to apply as soon as the application becomes available in April 2024. This program is being offered on a first-come, first-served basis by term.

ARE STUDENT TEACHERS EMPLOYED AT THE LEA OR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL WHERE THEY ARE COMPLETING THEIR STUDENT TEACHING ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?

No. Student teachers who are in a paid position at the LEA or non-public school during their student teaching term are not eligible to participate in the program. Temporary substitute teaching is permitted but must not exceed 10 days during the student teaching term.

If a student teacher is placed into a paid position during their student teaching term, they must notify PHEAA. Student teachers who do not report their status in a paid position to PHEAA and receive the stipend will be required to return the funds.

IHEs, LEAs, and non-public schools must report to PHEAA if a student has been placed in a paid position while student teaching.

Apply

What information will I need on my application?

You will need to share basic demographic information, your postsecondary school of attendance, what term you plan to student teach, and if available, your Professional Personnel Identification Number (PPID).

Contact information provided on the application must be legible and valid. We will email you at the address provided on the application or to an updated address provided to us by the student teacher.

What is a PPID and how do I get one?

Your PPID is a number unique to you assigned through the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) with PA Department of Education (PDE). You can find more information on TIMS at the PDE support site.

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Awards

How much money does the program provide?

The PA Student Teacher Support Program provides the following:

  • $10,000 to student teachers who meet program requirements.
  • An additional $5,000 is available to student teachers working in high-need areas which attract few student teachers or have a high rate of open positions.
  • A grant payment of $2,500 may also be available to the student teacher's cooperating teacher.

Awardees that fail to meet the 3-year commitment may be required to repay the awarded funds.

IS THE STUDENT TEACHER STIPEND TAXABLE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LEVEL?

Any funds derived from the PA Student Teacher Support Program are not subject to the PA Personal Income Tax (PIT) or any local income tax that is leveled by a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. Please refer to the PA Department of Revenue's FAQ for more information.

We encourage all recipients to engage with their tax advisor to determine taxability at the federal level.

TO WHOM WILL THE COOPERATING TEACHER STIPEND FUNDS BE DISBURSED?
The cooperating teacher funds will be disbursed at the end of the teaching term to the postsecondary school that the student teacher is attending. The postsecondary school will then be responsible for distributing the funds to the selected student teacher's cooperating teacher.
WHAT IF THE LEA OR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL WHERE THE STUDENT TEACHER IS PLACED DOES NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
Student teachers placed at a school that is not approved for the program will not be eligible to receive an award. This would include an LEA or non-public school that declines to participate in the program.
AS A STUDENT TEACHER AWARDEE, HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY PAYMENT?
The student teacher award will be disbursed to the LEA or non-public school where the student teacher is placed. Once received, the LEA or non-public school will dispense 100% of the stipend to the student teacher.

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