The Shapiro Administration is putting its money where its mouth is for its staffers, dishing out new and beefed-up education benefits to Commonwealth employees. In efforts to both beef up the workforce and incentivize professional development, they're slashing tuition costs and upping scholarships.

In a cool move for state employees looking to learn, York College of Pennsylvania and the Office of Administration have teamed up to provide a tuition discount of up to 15 percent. This cut can be applied to the college's graduate and professional programs for those working in participating Commonwealth agencies, giving them a chance to quickly upgrade their credentials.

Scholarships provided through the PASSHE Foundation also got a significant bump. Now, Commonwealth employees and their dependents can snag scholarships up to $3,000 if they're hitting the books full time, and $1,500 for part-timers each school year. That's real money for folks trying to balance a day job with hitting the books at night or on the weekends.

"Commonwealth employees have access to a wide array of training and development opportunities to help them gain updated skills and keep pace with advances in their career field," Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver pointed out. He went on to explain the idea is to "encourage employees to invest in themselves through lifelong learning" and thanked higher education institutions in Pennsylvania for making these opportunities happen for the workforce. Weaver's words were relayed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Shapiro Administration is looking to raise the bar on employee development. These new perks are a tangible step to ensure that state workers are not only up-to-date with the latest skills but are set up to advance in their careers. It underscores the state's belief in the value of continuous learning and investing in its people as a solid route to a more effective government.