Education
The High Cost of Pa. K–12 Education Failures
Key Points The cost and risk of failure in our K–12 system is high. Low academic achievement is a predictor of lower lifetime incomes and higher costs for taxpayers. On…
Read More: The High Cost of Pa. K–12 Education FailuresPennsylvania’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
Scholarship Organizations Bring Educational Freedom to Thousands
Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarship programs are lifelines for thousands of children around the state. At best, these children would be stuck in schools that aren’t meeting their education needs. At…
Media
Read More: Scholarship Organizations Bring Educational Freedom to ThousandsEducation
A Choice for All Students
Barbara “Annie” Jackson waitresses at Roxy's Café just a short walk away from the Capitol building in Harrisburg. Eight months pregnant, Annie serves steaming plates of eggs and mugs of hot coffee…
Media
Read More: A Choice for All StudentsEducation
The Truth about Education Spending in PA
Data from Pennsylvania's Department of Education refute the persistent myth that Pennsylvania public schools are underfunded. See the charts below for 2016-17 statistics on school spending, an update on where Pa.
Media
Read More: The Truth about Education Spending in PAEducation
Education Choice Saves Tax Dollars
Transparency in education funding and charter school reform are good ideas, yet this push for reform is being used to spread misinformation about educational opportunities. Namely, the idea that…
Media
Read More: Education Choice Saves Tax DollarsEducation
Tax Credit Scholarships: Pennsylvania is Falling Behind
Tax credit scholarships are one of the fastest growing school choice options. These programs allow businesses or individuals to receive a tax credit for donations to approved K-12 scholarship…
Media
Read More: Tax Credit Scholarships: Pennsylvania is Falling BehindEducation
Senate Committee Passes Major Education Reform Bill
Every student deserves an education that best fits his or her unique needs. But this vision of education equality is beyond the reach of thousands of Pennsylvania families. That’s why…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Committee Passes Major Education Reform BillEducation
Pittsburgh School District Rescinds Performance-Based Pay
In 2009, the Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) utilized a $40 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement a comprehensive new K-12 education program. The program, known…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh School District Rescinds Performance-Based PayEducation
Time to Let Fair Funding Work
A recent Philadelphia Inquirer editorial on school funding gets it partly right, but partly wrong. They challenge the fact that Pennsylvania spends $3,800 more per student than the national…
Media
Read More: Time to Let Fair Funding WorkEducation
Nine Irrefutable Facts About Education Savings Accounts
Children deserve an education that fits their unique needs. It’s time to bring education savings accounts to Pennsylvania and make that dream a reality. How do they work? Is there…
Memo
Read More: Nine Irrefutable Facts About Education Savings AccountsEducation
Election Results Shouldn’t Detract Attention From Real Reforms
Pennsylvania’s primary election results are sure to command a lot of attention this week, as analysts attempt to explain what the outcomes mean for November. One thing is certain: Many new…
Media
Read More: Election Results Shouldn’t Detract Attention From Real ReformsEducation
Upward Trend in School District Reserve Funds Continues
Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE) released their 2016-17 financial reports less than a week after opponents of education choice for children loudly proclaimed that the sky is falling,…
Media
Read More: Upward Trend in School District Reserve Funds ContinuesEducation
Education Tax Credit Escalator Basics
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs have offered a lifeline to Pennsylvania students, delivering more than 570,000 scholarships since the programs began. Last…
Memo
Read More: Education Tax Credit Escalator BasicsEducation
Students Harmed when Scholarships are Politicized
Bill Blum, Director of Finance at Kennedy Catholic High School (KCHS) in Hermitage, witnesses the power of education choice every day. But he’s also seen the suffering caused when these…
Media
Read More: Students Harmed when Scholarships are PoliticizedEducation
Teacher Strike Capitol of America
Pennsylvania is the teacher strike capital of America. Since 1999, Pennsylvania families have suffered through 131 strikes, affecting 300,000 students and causing 1,383 missed school days. This research, including county,…
Press Release
Read More: Teacher Strike Capitol of AmericaEducation
Answering Questions About ESAs
Education Savings Accounts (ESA) allow parents to customize and personalize their child's education. With an ESA, parents withdraw their child from the local public school and instead receive money from…
Media
Read More: Answering Questions About ESAsEducation
Empowering Parents of Students with Special Needs
Friends thought Dorothy Famiano was nuts when she decided to adopt two toddlers with special needs. She didn’t listen to the naysayers. Today Nicholas, who is confined to a…
Media
Read More: Empowering Parents of Students with Special NeedsEducation
Taxpayer Funds Used to Lobby Against Educational Choice
All Pennsylvania students deserve quality educations. For kids with unmet educational needs, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) provide access to the opportunities many of their peers already enjoy. Yet, instead…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Funds Used to Lobby Against Educational ChoiceEducation
Philly Exodus Spells the Need for School Choice
Philadelphia’s population is growing. In fact, Philly’s population has grown for 11 consecutive years according to the U.S. Census Bureau and highlighted recently in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Population growth…
Media
Read More: Philly Exodus Spells the Need for School ChoiceEducation
Are ESAs Coming to Connecticut?
Is a popular school choice program poised for another expansion? Following New Hampshire's lead, Connecticut is the latest New England state to entertain the notion of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Connecticut,…
Media
Read More: Are ESAs Coming to Connecticut?Education
Scholarship Tax Credits
Ziva loves school. Yet just a year ago, it was a different story. According to her mother, Jesica, Ziva’s first grade teacher had given up on little Ziva, claiming the…
Media
Read More: Scholarship Tax CreditsEducation
Some Clarity on Education Savings Accounts
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) continues to repeat common misconceptions about Education Savings Account (ESA) programs. Here are six facts to dispel their fallacies. 1. School Choice Improves Academic…
Media
Read More: Some Clarity on Education Savings Accounts