PA HB779

Establishes a Head Start Teacher Salary Supplement Pilot Program within the Department of Education to bring Head Start teacher salaries in line with elementary school teachers (K-4) with comparable skills and credentials

Pilot program operates for three school years, with guidelines established within 90 days of enactment

Eligible school districts must have a poverty rate of at least 20%; non-district-operated Head Start programs must be in census tracts with median poverty levels at 80% or less of the statewide median

Department must calculate salary subsidies based on what Head Start teachers would earn in the local public school district given their current experience and credentials, then provide that subsidy to the Head Start program

Department must submit a report to the General Assembly one year after implementation detailing program outcomes and recommendations, and must ensure all funds are used solely for teacher salary increases