Education
Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
Tens of thousands of kids wait-listed for Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarship programs could receive scholarships under the new federal program. First-Ever Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program Last July, Congress passed…
Read More: Federal Scholarship Tax CreditPennsylvania’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 educational choice a reality for all Pennsylvania students.
Education
Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget Proposal
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s unaffordable budget worsens Pennsylvania’s structural deficit. The governor proposes nearly $53.26 billion in general fund spending, a 6.3 percent increase over the 2025–26 enacted budget. He…
Fact Sheet
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Governor Shapiro Presents Unaffordable State Budget
Gov. Josh Shapiro returns to Pennsylvania to pitch spending plan families cannot afford. Harrisburg, Pa., February 3, 2026 — In a campaign-style speech that doesn’t address the needs of Pennsylvanians, Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his 2026 state budget address, proposing a $3.2 billion spending…
Press Release
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PA Pioneered School Choice. Now We Must Finish What We Started
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. With National School Choice Week upon us, we must reflect on our successes and challenges in expanding educational options across our great…
Media Hit
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School Choice Supporters Urge Shapiro to Act as Demand for Scholarships Surges
The Commonwealth Foundation joined other school choice advocates to testify before a state legislative committee, urging lawmakers to advance school choice in Pennsylvania. The event, hosted…
Organization Updates
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You May Support School Vouchers More Than You Realize
Originally published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Today marks the beginning of National School Choice Week—an annual reminder that all students deserve schools that best meet their…
Media Hit
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Pennsylvania Students Will Thrive With Educational Choice
Testimony of Stephen Bloom, Vice PresidentCommonwealth FoundationPennsylvania House Republican Policy CommitteeHearing on Educational Choice in the CommonwealthJanuary 23, 2026 Chairman Rowe and members of the committee: Thank you for…
Testimony
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More Money for Public Schools Isn’t Working
On January 12, Rachel Langan, senior education policy analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation, testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee. Rachel…
Blog
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A Nation That Can’t Explain 1776 Urgently Needs a Civic Education Revival
Originally published by The American Spectator. Why did the United States of America declare its independence from England in 1776? If you know the answer to…
Media Hit
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Pennsylvania is National Model for School Choice—With Room to Grow
Originally published by LNP-Lancester Online. The numbers are in: Pennsylvania is a national leader in school choice. For our students and families seeking alternatives to dangerous,…
Media Hit
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What Pennsylvania Lawmakers Must Prioritize in 2026
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Pennsylvania stands at a pivotal moment. Families are stretched thin by higher costs, and employers are weighing whether to invest here or elsewhere. We can’t…
Commentary
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The Top Five Policy Victories of 2025—and a Look Ahead to 2026
Pennsylvania saw no shortage of controversies and political battles in 2025, including a four-month-long budget impasse. But this year also saw lawmakers enact several pro-growth policies—from expanding educational choice to…
Blog
Read More: The Top Five Policy Victories of 2025—and a Look Ahead to 2026Education
Shapiro Should Opt in to New Federal Scholarship Program
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis surprised many when he announced his intentions to opt in to a new federal scholarship program…
Media Hit
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Special Needs Students Need School Choice
Originally published by The Philadelphia Citizen. Shannon Mitchell will never forget the first words from her nonverbal eight-year-old daughter, Brianna. “Hi, mama,” Briana said after getting…
Media Hit
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Public School Districts Leave Special-Needs Students, Families with Few Options
Harrisburg, Pa., December 16, 2025 — Traditional public schools leave students with disabilities on months- or years-long wait lists for compliance with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), according to a new report from the Commonwealth Foundation. If a public school district fails to meet the…
Press Release
Read More: Public School Districts Leave Special-Needs Students, Families with Few OptionsEducation
Pennsylvania Courts Never Ordered More Funding for Public Schools
One of the best-kept secrets in Pennsylvania is the outcome of the 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling on public education funding. Myths and disinformation abound. But few are as pernicious as…
Blog
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Shadow School Choice: How Public Education Spending Fails Special Needs Students
Overview Despite year-after-year increases to special education funding, too often, students with special needs are left behind. The U.S. Department of Education guarantees a free appropriate…
Fact Sheet
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As Pennsylvanians Reach for Leftovers, Shapiro Serves Up Pork
While Pennsylvanians dig into their leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner, the state finally delivered a feast of its own, passing a budget after a 135-day impasse. The deal,…
Blog
Read More: As Pennsylvanians Reach for Leftovers, Shapiro Serves Up PorkEducation
Setting the Table (for Students)
Abundance defines Thanksgiving. Everything that makes this holiday special—the celebration of unity, the cultural tradition, the shared history—coalesces over a meal of plenty, with choices for all shapes and sizes…
Blog
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Pennsylvania Student Test Scores Are In—and They Don’t Look Great
The 2025 results of Pennsylvania’s annual standardized tests are out, with mediocre results. The Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment (PSSA) tests students in grades 3 through…
Blog
Read More: Pennsylvania Student Test Scores Are In—and They Don’t Look GreatEducation
Despite Shapiro’s Failed Leadership, 2025-26 Budget Secures Key Permitting Wins, Ends Threat of RGGI
Harrisburg, Pa., November 12, 2025 — Despite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s failed leadership and a 135-day stalemate, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a compromise budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. The Commonwealth Foundation has released…
Press Release
Read More: Despite Shapiro’s Failed Leadership, 2025-26 Budget Secures Key Permitting Wins, Ends Threat of RGGIEducation
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 State Budget
Summary Four months late, Gov. Josh Shapiro and state lawmakers agreed on a state budget deal. The agreement spends $1.4 billion less than Shapiro’s reckless, extreme proposal, and uses excessive…
Backgrounder
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