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
Pittsburgh-Area Family Punished for Choosing Charter School
Fauna Shaffer Butera, mother of two young boys just miles to the northwest of Pittsburgh, opted to enroll her sons in Young Scholars Charter School. She was shocked to learn of the…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh-Area Family Punished for Choosing Charter SchoolEducation
Understanding Your School District?s Labor Contract
CF reviewed labor contracts in each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts and uncovered several interesting findings. These contracts, known as collective bargaining agreements, are negotiated behind closed doors between…
Media
Read More: Understanding Your School District?s Labor ContractEducation
The Power of Educational Choice
The story of Malachi Kuhn is a moving example of how lives are changed by educational choice. Malachi’s education savings account (ESA) helped him to literally stand…
Media
Read More: The Power of Educational ChoiceEducation
Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights
Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights Forced Unionism, Ghost Teachers Among Ways Contracts Exploit Teachers August 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As students across Pennsylvania head back to…
Press Release
Read More: Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ RightsEducation
Making the Most of Education Dollars
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale recently uncovered $2.5 million improperly paid to nine public charter schools. At issue is whether buildings owned by charter schools are eligible for the state's lease…
Media
Read More: Making the Most of Education DollarsEducation
Education Choice Benefits All
Private school choice programs benefit students, public schools, and taxpayers, according to new report from EdChoice. The report, the fourth edition of A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on…
Media
Read More: Education Choice Benefits AllEducation
Saving for a Rainy Day — But Whose Money?
Let’s talk for a moment about rainy days—specifically, the need to save funds to spend on one. Several school board administrators and lobbyists have taken issue with CF’s searchable,…
Media
Read More: Saving for a Rainy Day — But Whose Money?Education
PSERS Revokes Ghost Teachers? Illegal Pension Credit
In a victory for taxpayers, the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) has revoked pension credit illegally given to Allentown “ghost teachers” who were hired to teach but instead…
Media
Read More: PSERS Revokes Ghost Teachers? Illegal Pension CreditEducation
Will the Education Code Protect School Choice?
In addition to general appropriations (SB 1073) and the fiscal code (SB 1320), lawmakers are finalizing language in the education code, HB 530. This legislation promises significant reforms…
Media
Read More: Will the Education Code Protect School Choice?Education
2015 SAT Scores
The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is an important indicator of public education quality in Pennsylvania. Currently, the commonwealth ranks 36th out of the 50 states and 3 US territories (Washington…
Media
Read More: 2015 SAT ScoresEducation
The Taxpayers? False Choice
Governor Wolf and legislative leaders present Pennsylvanians with two options. The first requires taxpayers to fork over hundreds of millions in higher taxes. The second calls for steep cuts…
Media
Read More: The Taxpayers? False ChoiceEducation
Is Your School Hoarding Cash? 42% of Districts Hold Questionable Reserves
Is Your School Hoarding Cash? 42% of Pa. Districts Hold Questionable Reserves $4.3 Billion Reserve Funds Questioned As Property Taxes Rise June 16, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—The $200 million…
Press Release
Read More: Is Your School Hoarding Cash? 42% of Districts Hold Questionable ReservesEducation
School Districts Amass Record Reserve Funds
Is your local school board planning to raise property taxes despite holding millions in reserve funds? For many Pennsylvania school districts, the answer may be “yes.” Check out…
Media
Read More: School Districts Amass Record Reserve FundsEducation
‘Underfunded’ Pa. Schools Spend Nearly $16,000 Per Pupil
‘Underfunded’ Pa. Schools Spend Nearly $16,000 Per Pupil District Reserves Reach $4.3 Billion in 2014-15 as Attendance Declines June 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Contradicting the claim that Pennsylvania underfunds…
Press Release
Read More: ‘Underfunded’ Pa. Schools Spend Nearly $16,000 Per PupilEducation
Is $27 Billion Enough?
Is $27 billion enough money for Pennsylvania's public schools? This is the question policymakers must answer before voting to raise taxes on …
Media
Read More: Is $27 Billion Enough?Education
School Spending Update, 2014-15
Pennsylvania school districts spent approximately $27.4 billion in 2014-15. This represents a $1.3 billion increase from 2013-14, despite a 12,000 student decrease in average daily membership.
Memo
Read More: School Spending Update, 2014-15Education
Ghost Teachers Bill Advances in State House
Ghost Teachers Bill Advances in State House Legislation Strictly Limits Union Work on School Time June 6, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today, the state House Education Committee advanced HB 2125,…
Press Release
Read More: Ghost Teachers Bill Advances in State HouseEducation
Ghost Teaching Put to Rest?
Are ghost teachers about to be put to rest? Ghost teachers in Pennsylvania would be strictly limited under legislation approved by the state House Education Committee today. HB 2125 restricts…
Media
Read More: Ghost Teaching Put to Rest?Education
Wolf Admin. Thanks Excellent Teachers, But Won’t Protect Them
The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released a video featuring Secretary Pedro Rivera congratulating students for completing a school year. He praises children for “show[ing] up each and every…
Media
Read More: Wolf Admin. Thanks Excellent Teachers, But Won’t Protect ThemEducation
An Easy Way to Give School Budgets a Boost
“I want to put more education dollars in our classrooms, not our school buses,” said Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, while releasing an analysis of 19 school districts that exceeded…
Media
Read More: An Easy Way to Give School Budgets a BoostEducation
Wolf Sacrifices Great Teachers for Union Approval
Wolf Sacrifices Great Teachers for Union Approval Governor Vetoes Protecting Excellent Teachers Act May 18, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Wolf today chose to side with teachers’ union leaders over…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Sacrifices Great Teachers for Union Approval