“Secretary Tom Wolf and the public sector unions funding his campaign continue to lie about Governor Corbett’s record on education. The truth is that Pennsylvania is investing more in our public schools than at any time in state history, while reforms to teacher and student evaluations are ensuring our children are getting the education they deserve and training they need for the family-sustaining jobs of the 21^st century. As this report shows, Pennsylvania ranks as the second most teacher-friendly states in the country and the U.S. Chamber recently gave Pennsylvania an “A” for Academic Achievement. Under Governor Corbett, education has been a priority and these ratings reflect that truth. Additionally, while Governor Corbett continues to fight for pension reform in order to direct even more resources into the classroom, Tom Wolf has had his head in the sand, denying our pension crisis and continuing to put the special interests above the people of Pennsylvania.” -- Chris Pack, Communication Director

--IN CASE YOU MISSED IT--

Pa. ranks No. 2 in teacher-friendly state analysis

Pennsylvania is the second-most teacher-friendly state in the nation, according to a new analysis by personal finance social media network WalletHub.

WalletHub said it analyzed metrics ranging from median starting salary to unemployment rate to teacher job openings per capita across two key dimensions: “opportunity and competition” and “work environment." Pennsylvania ranked 6th and 13th, respectively, for an overall ranking just behind the top state, Wyoming.

Pennsylvania results in some key metrics considered and respective rankings in the analysis are as follows.

• Average starting salary, adjusted for cost of living: $41,610; 2

• Median annual salary, adjusted for cost of living: $58,366; 6

• Percentage of projected population between 5 and 17 years by 2030: 15.76 percent; 41

• Number of teachers per capita: 0.0086; 41

• Projected number of teachers per capita by 2022: 0.0084; 26

• Unemployment rate: 5.8 percent; 22

• Number of elementary and secondary schools per capita: 0.000412; 10

• Change in constant dollars for teacher salaries from the 2003-04 school year to the 2013-14 school year: 21.8 percent; 33

• Teacher job openings per capita: 0.000213; 26

• Average number of students per teacher: 14.21; 19

• Percent of public school teachers who reported they were threatened with injury by a student from school: 4.6 percent; 2

• Average number of hours worked for teachers: 31.8; 11

• Annual state and local expenditures for K-12 public schools per student: $1,937; 14

Read the article online HERE.