Pennsylvania State Education Association President Aaron Chapin urged the state House Education Committee on May 5 to pass legislation that would strengthen protections for school employees injured as a result of student behavior.
The proposed House Bill 1919 would allow educators and support staff who are hurt on the job to recover without losing pay, benefits, or retirement service credit. Supporters say this measure is needed because current gaps in coverage force many school workers to bear financial burdens after workplace injuries.
“No school employee should be forced to absorb the financial consequences of being injured while doing their job,” Chapin said. “Right now, too many are, and increasingly, they are choosing to leave. And when they leave, the impact is felt by the entire school community, students and staff alike. That is not sustainable for our workforce or for our students. If we want stability in our schools, we must provide stability for the people in them.”
Chapin described recent roundtable discussions with special educators from across Pennsylvania who reported growing caseloads and more complex student needs as key concerns affecting safety at work. “Educators are seeing students experience more trauma, dysregulation, and emotional complexity, while access to counselors, psychologists, behavior analysts, and outside services remains limited,” Chapin said.
He pointed out that similar protections already exist under Pennsylvania’s Heart and Lung Act of 1935 for public safety employees temporarily injured on duty. He argued that consistent standards should also apply to education professionals statewide.
Chapin concluded by saying: “Behavioral incidents are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more difficult to manage safely, making injuries of school staff more likely. School employees should not have to bargain for these basic protections at the local level due to gaps in workers compensation coverage. They should be able to rely on a consistent standard that reflects the realities of their work.” The full testimony can be read at www.psea.org/testimony.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association represents over 178,000 educators and related professionals across Pennsylvania through legislative advocacy and resources such as professional development programs according to the official website.
