Pennsylvania Lawmakers Push Teacher Retention Bill

House Bill 2659 would create an opt-in grant program for districts to develop advanced teaching roles.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a lone wooden school-desk chair on a stone floor with a pale ribbon leading toward a doorway, evoking teacher retention. — Pennsylvania Rep. Gina Curry introduced House Bill 2659 on Tuesday, proposing opt-in grants so districts can create advanced teaching roles amid a nearly 70% drop in certifications since 2013. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Pennsylvania educators and lawmakers called for changes to address the teacher shortage at the Capitol on Tuesday. State Rep. Gina Curry introduced House Bill 2659, which would create an opt-in grant program for advanced teaching roles.

Why it matters

Teacher certifications in Pennsylvania have dropped nearly 70% since 2013, and the bill aims to keep rookie teachers who leave over burnout and a lack of opportunities. Educators say demands keep growing without the time, support and resources to meet them.

Pennsylvania teacher certifications have fallen nearly 70% since 2013, according to figures cited by educators at the Capitol. The bill's grant funding levels and participating district counts have not been specified.

The players

Gina Curry

Pennsylvania state representative and primary sponsor of House Bill 2659, a grant-based approach to advanced teaching roles.

Teach Plus Pennsylvania

Education nonprofit whose executive director, Laura Boyce, hopes the state becomes a national model for teacher recruitment and retention.

The details

Rep. Gina Curry introduced House Bill 2659, which would let school districts apply for grants to develop advanced teaching roles. The proposed model pairs newer teachers with experienced mentors to encourage collaboration and teacher leadership.

Since 2013: Teacher certifications in Pennsylvania dropped nearly 70%.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026: Educators and policymakers called for change at the Capitol in Harrisburg.

Season Trajectory

The certification decline since 2013 has made Pennsylvania's teacher workforce a recurring state policy concern. House Bill 2659 represents a legislative attempt to reverse that trend through retention rather than recruitment alone.

If enacted, House Bill 2659 would let Pennsylvania school districts apply for grants to build advanced teaching roles that could keep newer teachers in classrooms. The bill is not yet law, so its effect on local schools remains uncertain.

The takeaway

Retaining newer teachers may depend on giving them mentorship, leadership paths and manageable workloads rather than recruitment alone. Readers can follow House Bill 2659 as it moves through the legislature.