Wilkes-Barre Program Places Future Teachers in Classrooms Amid Shortage

The Wilkes-Barre Area School District’s Education Experience Program allows high school seniors to participate in hands-on job activities while completing core classes.

This program joins similar programs across the state to combat the growing nationwide teacher shortage, which has declined 62 percent since 2010, according to state data.

The Education Experience Program, which rotates students to work with various class levels and mentors, has partnered with Luzerne County higher education to take college-level courses and set up post-graduation opportunities.

Click here to read the full article

Outdoor Recreation Drives Local Economy, Preserves Region’s History

Pennsylvania hosts 20 state forests, 124 state parks, and over 195,000 acres of local parks, all of which hold land and water recreational trails.

Outdoor recreation contributed $19 billion to the state economy and supported over 168,000 jobs for state residents, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

This article discusses the importance of outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania, and how trail systems and local parks benefit NEPA.



Click here to read the full article

Shapiro Administration Pitches $23 Million for Agriculture Innovation Grants

The Shapiro Administration is pitching $23 million to support new agriculture technologies and conservation projects, nearly double the amount of past grant programs.

This series of grants will reimburse farmers and other farming businesses that align operations to be more environmentally friendly and efficient.

New projects highlighted are new refrigeration methods, farming precision technology, automatic harvesting systems, robotics, and other efficiency initiatives.  

Click here to read the full article

Persistent Gaps in Academic Preparation Generate College Enrollment Disparities

Socioeconomic status-based college enrollment disparities have persisted for the last several decades.

Much of these gaps are a result of disparities in academic preparation for students in different socioeconomic groups.

Brookings Research explains what academic preparation entails, how it affects college enrollment, and how to address socioeconomic education gaps. 

Click here to read the full article

Environment, Extreme Weather Unequally Impacted Disabled Adults in 2023

People with disabilities are disproportionately at risk for extreme weather and environmental events.

As policy for the changing climate emerges, it is important to consider the effects of natural disasters and weather events between different demographics.

The Urban Institute discusses its findings on the impacts of environmental and weather events on health, housing, and economic stability, with a look at the disparities in outcomes for individuals with disabilities. 



Click here to read the full article

Understanding the Global Growth Potential of AI

The AI industry is expected to impact up to 40 percent of global jobs, according to data from the UN Trade and Development’s 2025 Technology and Innovation report.

Efficiency and innovation remain key factors in AI development and may affect how many jobs are conducted.

The State Science and Technology Institute discusses how AI will impact various global economies, and how improvements to operations and technology can be made.



Click here to read the full article