Rural Pennsylvanians Deserve School Choice, Too

Originally published by Delaware Valley Journal.

Education reform fixates on Pennsylvania’s urban centers (i.e., Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). Yet, the state’s troubled education system isn’t only a big-city problem; rural families also struggle to find the right schools.

Rural Pennsylvania faces unique challenges that limit families’ access to great schools. Lower population density, transportation challenges, and fewer schools narrow their educational options. For many Pennsylvanian families, charter schools and cyber charter schools are the only tuition-free alternatives. Yet, these schools face persistent threats from Harrisburg.

The traditional solution by many lawmakers is to throw more money at the problem. The result: State support for Pennsylvania public schools has grown about 54 percent over the past decade.

Read more at Delaware Valley Journal.