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
Audio: Real Solutions for Struggling Schools
What are some solutions to fixing the environment in failing school districts? Providing families with the flexibility in choosing where their children go to school, rewarding the best—not…
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More Evidence: Charter Schools Thrive in Philadelphia
There’s a reason why Philadelphia families endure charter school lotteries in which less than two percent of 5,000 applicants win seats. These schools are producing terrific results…
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Changing the Culture at H.R. Edmunds
The first Winter Concert was the turning point. That’s when students at The Philadelphia Charter School for Arts & Sciences—formerly known as H.R. Edmunds—began believing in themselves. “Our kids…
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Pennsylvania’s Charter Law: Room to Improve
Pennsylvania’s charter school law received its 2015 report card, and unfortunately it will not earn a place on the refrigerator. The commonwealth earned a “C” grade from the…
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Protecting Pennsylvania’s Excellent Teachers
Shortly after graduation, Dominique took a job at one of Philadelphia’s most challenging turnaround high schools, University City. After one very successful year the district experienced significant layoffs…
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Stunning Violence in York City Signals Need for Meaningful Reform, not More Funding
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Stunning Violence in York City Signals Need for Meaningful Reform, not More Funding 13 percent of reported sexual…
Press Release
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Education-Industrial Complex Strikes Again
Much has been made of recent comments from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan regarding school funding in Pennsylvania. According to Duncan, Pennsylvania's families are “being shortchanged when…
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The Case for More Educational Choice in Philadelphia
Will’s family thought he was one of the chosen few: A Philadelphia student who managed to secure a seat at the high-performing Christopher Columbus Charter School. But…
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Audio: Smarter Spending, not More Spending, Key for State Budget
Education proved to be the centerpiece of Gov. Wolf’s budget address, but his facts on school funding get a failing grade. This morning, Nate Benefield, CF’s Vice President of…
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Spending More, or Spending More Wisely?
When you purchase a good or service—be it a cheeseburger, a pair of shoes, or a car wash—how do you evaluate its quality? Do you consider the outputs—whether the service…
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A School for the City, Not a Fortress from the City
The plan was for Hudson to attend public school in Philadelphia—at least for one year. But after Andy, Hudson’s father, visited their neighborhood school, Horatio Hackett, he wanted something different…
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Thousands of Philly Students Left on Waiting Lists
The long, frustrating wait continues for Philadelphia families desperate for educational opportunity. Last Wednesday, Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) rejected 34 of 39 charter school applicants. Five…
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New Charter School Proposals Offer Hope for Thousands in Phila.
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 New Charter School Proposals Offer Hope for Thousands in Phila. Life-changing Educational Opportunities Should not be Denied Good morning, This afternoon, Philadelphia families…
Press Release
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Student Funding Reform
Pennsylvania ranks among the nation’s leaders in education spending per student. Although spending levels are high, the system for distributing state funding is outdated. Weighted student funding (WSF) is a…
Fact Sheet
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Wolf’s Gas Tax Won’t Help Students, but Will Kill Their Job Opportunities
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s Gas Tax Won’t Help Students, but Will Kill Their Job Opportunities Natural Gas Industry Already Pays Billions to Fund Government Good morning,…
Press Release
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Audio: School Choice is More than Just a Concept
Every child deserves access to the best educational opportunity available to them, especially if quality education is hard to find in their local public school district. School choice is already…
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$35 Million Worth of New Charter Seats?
Philadelphia School Partnership (PSP)—a nonprofit that invests in a variety of schools across the city—is offering $35 million to the School District of Philadelphia to fund over 11,000 seats…
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Teachers Denied the Right to Represent Themselves
Last week the Bethlehem Area School District approved a new labor contract that will force all teachers—even those who do not want the union’s services—to pay the organization hundreds of…
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After 50 years of Union Control, Philly Schools Still Failing
Academic failure, school violence, and financial mismanagement have been the dubious hallmarks of the School District of Philadelphia for decades. In that time, there has been one constant actor fighting…
Commentary
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The State of School Choice in Pennsylvania
In many respects, Pennsylvania is a pioneer of school choice. With 173 charter schools—14 of which are cyber charters—and two scholarship tax credit programs, the commonwealth is the envy of…
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Podcast: A Local-Only Teachers Union?
Michigan teacher Jim Perialas has an unusual story. In 2012 his school, Roscommon Area School District, became the first in decades to decertify (or leave) the state-wide Michigan Education Association…
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