Commonwealth Foundation Joins Education Secretary McMahon to Advance Educational Freedom in Pennsylvania

Last Friday, the Commonwealth Foundation joined national and state leaders under the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg to deliver a straightforward message: Gov. Josh Shapiro must opt in to the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) program.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon, whose team organized the event, kicked it off with opening remarks, highlighting the importance and value of school choice.

“We are all united by a shared belief,” she said. “Every child deserves access to an education that equips them to succeed, not one limited by their zip code.”

The Education Secretary expressed her concern over the Pennsylvania governor’s hesitance to opt in.

“It’s unfortunate that despite this vigorous, widespread support, Governor Josh Shapiro hesitated to voice his support for this transformative program,” she said.

Andrew Lewis, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, also encouraged the governor to do the right thing.

“We are uniquely positioned to lead,” Lewis said, highlighting Pennsylvania’s own tax-credit scholarship programs. Last year, the commonwealth awarded more than 100,000 scholarships to Pennsylvania kids seeking educational alternatives.

“Pennsylvania has the infrastructure,” Lewis said. “We have the demand. We have the opportunity. Now we need the leadership.”

Other speakers included U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, state Rep. Martina White, state Sen. Greg Rothman, and J.D. Longo and Mary Stifler from the Pennsylvania chapter of the America First Policy Institute.

As the debate over education freedom continues in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth Foundation remains at the forefront by advocating for expanded opportunity, amplifying the voices of families, and working to ensure that more students have access to the education that best fits their needs.

Several publications covered the event, including Center Square, The Sentinel, and Yahoo News. To watch the full press conference, click here or watch below.