Education
2025 State of Education Spending in Pennsylvania
Overview The national trends impacting education in Pennsylvania in 2025 include an impending fiscal cliff, under-enrolled schools, and population decline, all of which lead to school closures…
Read More: 2025 State of Education Spending in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania’s future is in the hands of the next generation. Parents and students—not activist agendas—should drive the Commonwealth’s education policy. While policymakers have been entrusted with ensuring the next generation receives a quality education, parents should be empowered to choose the quality education that meets their unique child’s needs. Charter schools and tax credit scholarships are integral pieces of school choice, but more reforms are needed to make school choice a reality for all Pennsylvania students.
Education
Pennsylvania’s education system is broken: here’s how to fix it
Originally published in The Patriot-News Are Pennsylvania schools underfunded? Before COVID-19, 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters thought so. Then, after voters learned the actual price tag, this number dropped…
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Pa. Education Funding Spikes Again
Key Points Pennsylvania school district spending per student increased to $21,263 in 2021–22. State support of public education is up 55.7 percent over the last decade, reaching an all-time high…
Backgrounder
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School Choice Report, Episode 5
In this week’s episode of School Choice Report, host David Hardy welcomes Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano. They discuss the recent mayoral primary in Philadelphia and what it…
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The key to Cherelle Parker’s success? Rejecting the Democrats’ progressive wing.
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Black voters, especially those living in low-income neighborhoods, propelled Cherelle Parker to victory in the Democratic primary for mayor of…
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Education Opportunity Accounts in Practice
Key Points Education Opportunity Accounts (EOAs) are transformative, flexible-use accounts funded by state tax dollars.Program Administration: The Pennsylvania Treasury is the ideal administrator at the state level and may contract…
Backgrounder
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Commonwealth Foundation Offers Gov. Shapiro Helping Hand to Deliver on Campaign Promises
Harrisburg, Pa., May 17, 2023 – The Commonwealth Foundation today kicked off an advocacy campaign called “Shapiro’s Promises” to generate support for bipartisan initiatives that Gov. Josh Shapiro committed…
Press Release
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Gov. Shapiro, Choose School Choice Over Union Power Grabs
Originally published at The American Spectator Pennsylvania’s government unions are reaping the benefits of their political donations, further inflating the costs of collective bargaining agreements — at taxpayers’ expense.
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School Choice Report, Episode 4
In this week’s School Choice Report, host David Hardy welcomes special guest Jeff Yass, co-founder and managing partner of Susquehanna International Group (SIG). Jeff is known for his unwavering support…
Podcast
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Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano on OAN 4.12.2023
Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano appeared on OAN to discuss the findings of the Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll.
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How the next mayor can help Philadelphia’s schools
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer The top reason people with kids move out of Philadelphia isn’t because of crime or jobs — it’s…
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Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll Findings
Summary The Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll, conducted March 24-29, is the first in a series of quarterly surveys taking the pulse of voters on the “state of the…
Memo
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No real education reform without school choice. Bigger budgets won’t do enough.
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Flooding public schools with more money won’t deliver educational opportunity for every student. Equitable opportunity requires that every student has access to the educational…
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School Choice Report, Episode 2
There have been countless battles for the right to properly educate, give agency to, and give education access to Black children. In this episode, Dr. Howard Fuller joins the conversation.
Podcast
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Commonwealth Foundation Files Amicus Brief Following Education Lawsuit Ruling
April 3, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation filed an amicus brief in response to the Commonwealth Court’s recent ruling in William Penn School District et al. v.
Press Release
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Pennsylvania Senator Kim Ward endorses Lifeline Scholarships after Gov. Shapiro’s budget address
Pennsylvania Senator Kim Ward encourages Gov. Josh Shapiro to support Lifeline Scholarships following the budget address.
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School Choice Report, Episode 1
In this inaugural episode of School Choice Report, host David Hardy will take a deep dive into school choice with special guest and Sr. Vice President of the Commonwealth Foundation…
Podcast
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PA Education-Funding Lawsuit Opens the Floodgates for Reform
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania In February, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued a controversial decision that could end a long-running, high-profile lawsuit over the state’s funding of public schools. The…
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Fiscal Impact of School Choice
Summary Tax credit scholarships and Education Opportunity Accounts (EOAs) provide students with educational opportunity at a fraction of what public schools cost, generating significant savings for taxpayers. Educational choice programs…
Fact Sheet
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Where is all the education money going?
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Reviewhttps://triblive.com/opinion/david-p-hardy-where-is-all-the-education-money-going/ State and national media are spotlighting Pennsylvania’s education funding system in the wake of a long-awaited Commonwealth Court decision. While the…
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Senior VP Nathan Benefield on the Dom Giordano Program highlighting education funding
Our Sr. Vice President Nathan Benefield recently chatted with radio host Dom Giordano about the ruling regarding education funding in Pennsylvania.
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Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocates
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer After a more than eight-year slog, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court affirmed what the Pennsylvania Constitution has said all…
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