Charles Mitchell
President & CEO
Charles grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs in a family of railroaders, teachers, and small business owners. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania’s public schools, Bucknell University, the Koch Associate Program, and the Claremont Institute’s Publius Fellowship.
Charles first became associated with the Commonwealth Foundation when he was a college newspaper editor under attack for defending free speech. He became a Commonwealth Foundation investor in 2006, joined the staff as Chief Operations Officer in 2010, and became CEO in 2016. During that time, he has been honored with the State Policy Network’s Overton Award and the Heritage Foundation’s Distinguished Intern Alumni Award and recognized as one of City & State Pennsylvania Forty Under 40 Rising Stars.
In addition to his Commonwealth Foundation responsibilities, Charles serves as an elder of his family’s church, a founder of Threefold Schoolhouse: An Acton Academy, president of the Open Discourse Coalition, and a board member of Americans for Fair Treatment.
Charles lives in the Harrisburg area with his wife and their four daughters.
Education
Josh Shapiro can now focus on leading Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News Being passed over for vice president may be the best thing that ever happened to Josh Shapiro. That’s probably not what our…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro can now focus on leading PennsylvaniaEducation
Who will Harris pick for vice president? Why Shapiro and Whitmer aren’t the answers.
Originally published at USA Today Joe Biden is out. Kamala Harris is almost certainly in. The question now is: Who will the likely Democratic presidential…
Media Hit
Read More: Who will Harris pick for vice president? Why Shapiro and Whitmer aren’t the answers.Education
President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
Media Hit
Read More: President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris StigallEducation
Shapiro Failed on School Choice—Again. There’s Hope Despite Him
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The state budget is finally done, but Pennsylvania families should be angry. That’s the most important takeaway from the budget that Gov. Josh Shapiro and…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro Failed on School Choice—Again. There’s Hope Despite HimEducation
A Pennsylvania Pastor Leads His Community’s Fight for Educational Freedom
Originally published at Reason Pastor Joshua Robertson didn’t set out to become a leader in the educational freedom movement, but when his community called, he answered. It was several…
Media Hit
Read More: A Pennsylvania Pastor Leads His Community’s Fight for Educational FreedomEducation
Josh Shapiro plays to the middle while pleasing the left
Originally published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Perhaps you’ve heard: Our governor is a moderate president-in-the-making. Josh Shapiro is leaning into this image as the state legislature negotiates next year’s budget,…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro plays to the middle while pleasing the leftEducation
Charles Mitchell | On Offense in Pennsylvania
Charles Mitchell is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Commonwealth Foundation. Charles grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs in a family of railroaders, teachers, and small…
Media Hit
Read More: Charles Mitchell | On Offense in PennsylvaniaPublic Union Democracy
Public Sector Unions Aren’t Doing Well
Originally published at The American Spectator Union strikes are all the rage these days. From automobile workers to television writers, labor strikes have dominated the news cycle this year —…
Media Hit
Read More: Public Sector Unions Aren’t Doing WellEducation
School choice won in Pennsylvania this year—and 2024 is even more promising
Originally published at The Patriot-News School choice advocates in Pennsylvania received good news and even better news with the last legislative session of the year. First, the…
Media Hit
Read More: School choice won in Pennsylvania this year—and 2024 is even more promisingEducation
Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell joins the Dawn Stensland Show on November 7, 2023
Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell discusses Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s shift on education policy.
Media Hit
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell joins the Dawn Stensland Show on November 7, 2023Education
The nation is watching Gov. Shapiro; he should lead on educational freedom in Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News The state has a public education system with students trapped in failing schools. The governor wants to create the school choice funding they…
Media Hit
Read More: The nation is watching Gov. Shapiro; he should lead on educational freedom in PennsylvaniaEducation
Shapiro Could Be the First Prominent Democrat to Deliver School Choice
Originally published in Real Clear Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro could still be the first in his party to provide genuine school choice for his…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro Could Be the First Prominent Democrat to Deliver School ChoiceEducation
Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Charles Mitchell on the Dawn Stensland Show July 11, 2023
Media Hit
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Charles Mitchell on the Dawn Stensland Show July 11, 2023Education
A Good Education Isn’t a Perk. It’s a Lifeline.
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal What would you do to help your children succeed? Would you advocate for them, pushing to change the broken systems that keep them…
Media Hit
Read More: A Good Education Isn’t a Perk. It’s a Lifeline.Education
Josh Shapiro Chooses Teachers Unions Over Students
Originally published in the Wall Street Journal Nancy Pelosi infamously stated that to find out what ObamaCare contained, Congress had to pass the bill. This week, Pennsylvania’s Democratic Gov. Josh…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro Chooses Teachers Unions Over StudentsEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Chairman & CEO Charles Mitchell on the Dom Giordano Show July 6, 2023
Commonwealth Foundation Chairman & CEO Charles Mitchell talks Lifeline Scholarships and the Pennsylvania budget on the Dom Giordano Show.
Media Hit
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Chairman & CEO Charles Mitchell on the Dom Giordano Show July 6, 2023Energy
Will Pennsylvania’s Governor See the Light on Energy or Follow Biden’s Lead?
Originally published in National Review Pennsylvania ranks among the leading energy producers in the nation and is our country’s No. 1 exporter of electricity. But radical environmentalists and…
Media Hit
Read More: Will Pennsylvania’s Governor See the Light on Energy or Follow Biden’s Lead?Public Union Democracy
Teacher Unions Pick Politics Over Students and Teachers
Originally published at The American Spectator There’s a war brewing in education — and it’s not just on parents. It’s on the teachers themselves — and the same unions…
Commentary
Read More: Teacher Unions Pick Politics Over Students and TeachersProsperity
Ending Poverty Starts With Increasing Work And Paychecks, Not Government Budgets
Originally published at The Federalist Lawmakers across the spectrum agree that poverty is a perennial crisis. But if they are ever going to come together to find an effective…
Media Hit
Read More: Ending Poverty Starts With Increasing Work And Paychecks, Not Government BudgetsEnergy
Key to PA’s Success Isn’t More Bureaucracy – It’s More Business Innovation
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania brims with natural resources and human talent – but for the past eight years, the state’s heavy regulatory hand has often restrained opportunities for…
Media Hit
Read More: Key to PA’s Success Isn’t More Bureaucracy – It’s More Business InnovationFairness
Public-Sector Unions Struggle to Maintain Influence, Membership
Originally published at Newsweek Some observers argue the labor movement in America is “having a moment,” but for the four largest public-sector workers’ unions—AFSCME, SEIU, NEA, and AFT—the “moment” is…
Media Hit
Read More: Public-Sector Unions Struggle to Maintain Influence, Membership