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Education
Why Are Kids Falling Behind in PA?
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. By most measures, Pennsylvania has invested more in public education than ever. However, despite increased spending, academic achievement has flattened, leaving many…
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Why Teachers Unions Fear—and Fib About—New Federal Program
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Regulation
To Stop Brain Drain, Pennsylvania Must Undo Regulations That Were Meant to Keep Young Families Out
Read More: To Stop Brain Drain, Pennsylvania Must Undo Regulations That Were Meant to Keep Young Families Out
Education
A Decade Left Behind
My first career started a few decades ago in the classroom as a high school history teacher. While much has changed since then – including the use of technology and…
Commentary
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Why Gov. Corbett Didn’t Get His Christmas Wish List
For Christmas this year, Gov. Tom Corbett hoped the legislature would gift wrap three things he could tie a bow on: An education reform package that included school vouchers, state…
Commentary
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PLCB Must End Costly Mission Conflict
Sadly, a recent Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board campaign sent just the opposite message to women across the state. The PLCB launched an ad campaign and Web site called Control Tonight to warn of the…
Commentary
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What Will You See in 17 Minutes?
Seventeen minutes is a small sliver of time for most people. In those few moments, most people could take a shower, prepare a meal, or watch half a sitcom. But…
Commentary
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Pennsylvania’s School Choice Movement Must Address the ‘Bottom 5%’
Pennsylvania has a simple choice to make. We can embrace change and welcome educational reform or we can choose to satisfy ourselves with the tired old policies of the past that,…
Commentary
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Gas Drilling for Pennsylvania’s Farms, Family and Future
Across Pennsylvania, natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale has benefited not just companies but also human beings -- by creating tens of thousands of jobs, rescuing families from foreclosure,…
Commentary
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A New Teacher Evaluation System for Pennsylvania
After numerous meetings and conversations with constituents, teachers, school administrators and education policy experts, I have come to the conclusion that we must have a comprehensive way to identify quality…
Commentary
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WIFM: What’s In It for Me?
"What's in it for me?" Legislators will ask that question from time to time when they don't see the direct political benefit in voting for something controversial. Recently, as Gov.
Commentary
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Parents to Pa. House: We Need School Choice!
Listen to the lives and pleas of three parents with children trapped in failure factories, who tell House members why school choice is their only way out, their only hope.
Commentary
Read More: Parents to Pa. House: We Need School Choice!Government Accountability
Government Unions Steal Worker Freedom
Pennsylvania is one of 28 states in which workers can be compelled to give part of their paycheck to a union just to keep their job. Moreover, even non-membership is…
Commentary
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Rep.: Pa. Ed Needs 1st Class Not Third-World Results
One of the most controversial and emotional issues facing our Commonwealth involves the future of the education system. The media's attempt to reduce nearly every major complicated issue…
Commentary
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Willie and Penny Can’t Read
We'll call them Willie, Penny, Ben and Frankie, four public school students from Philadelphia, Reading, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, respectively. If they don't drop out of school and become clients of…
Commentary
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Principles Must Lead Shale Fee Proposal
Before sound could travel from Gov. Corbett's lips to Pennsylvanians' ears, special interest groups and tax-and-spend politicians unwisely laid waste his plan to protect job growth and stave off family…
Commentary
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Pennsylvania’s Public Universities Have Indigestion
If you ask them, they'll say they're hurting because budget-slashing Gov. Tom Corbett just forced something nasty down their throats—namely cuts to the subsidies they receive from Keystone State taxpayers. …
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Public Universities Have IndigestionRegulation
Public-Private Parking Prevents Tax Hikes
Facing immense fiscal and political pressures, many local governments are looking for ways to fund services without raising taxes. But officials need not curb their enthusiasm for fiscal responsibility if…
Commentary
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The State of Inconvenience
Walk into any supermarket in Ohio and you can see shoppers purchasing everything they need for dinner - including the wine to go with it. In West Virginia, residents can…
Commentary
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Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships
Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Corbett suggested the commonwealth consider leasing state park operations and services. Almost immediately and without thoughtful consideration, pundits launched political fire, claiming "privateers" would exploit…
Commentary
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Green Light More Education Tax Credits
Would you ever give a green light or a hard-earned nickel to a business model that showed it was going to hire more staff to service fewer customers by doubling…
Commentary
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Taxing Gas will Burden Pennsylvanians
Despite the manufactured fears of disaster and cheers for a unique tax on drilling, Pennsylvania can balance economic growth with environmental protection without imposing a new tax. The true impacts…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing Gas will Burden PennsylvaniansGovernment Accountability
Government Transparency in Pennsylvania Becomes a Reality
The last few months saw immense partisan animosity and demeaning comments during numerous spats under the Capitol Dome. But amid the fiscal fist fights over school choice, a natural gas…
Commentary
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Corbett’s First Inning Scorecard
July signals the coming of two breaks in Pennsylvania—Major League Baseball's All-Star break and the end of the state budget season. Having endured his first budget as the commonwealth's chief…
Commentary
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