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
Wolf Misleads About Education “Cuts”
On Christmas Eve, Gov. Tom Wolf posted a blog attacking Republicans and the “extremist” budget now sitting on his desk—which passed the Senate on a bipartisan 33-17 vote. Wolf…
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Students Need Scholarships, Not Sympathy
Gov. Tom Wolf’s insistence on higher taxes blocks state funding from school districts and jeopardizes private school scholarships for thousands of low- and middle-income students.
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Wolf’s School Funding Cuts
In a nutshell, Gov. Tom Wolf’s guiding philosophy on education reform is to spend more money on public schools. Embracing the repeatedly-debunked myth of education cuts under the previous…
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Tax Shifts and Education Spending
As proposals to reduce, reform, or (mostly) eliminate school property taxes continue to be debated in Harrisburg, many readers have asked about our position on a dollar-for-dollar tax shift,…
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Philly Union Priorities: Politics over Teachers
How would you feel if your employer took funds meant for your health insurance and spent them on partisan politics? Sadly, this is a reality for thousands of teachers in…
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For Property Tax Relief, Give Voters Control
Should voters have the right to approve property tax increases? This is a central point of contention within a rumored budget framework that purports to provide Pennsylvanians with property tax…
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Cyber Schools: Serving an Important Need
In light of stagnating achievement among K-12 students, the last thing Pennsylvania should do is crack down on alternative educational options. Yet a growing chorus says 35,000 students enrolled…
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Another Education Spending Record?
The conventional wisdom in Harrisburg suggests Gov. Wolf is nearing an agreement with the legislature on a state budget. The specific details remain largely unclear, although it appears the…
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For Latinos, Education is Key to Success
For the Hispanic community, education is the key to making the American Dream a reality. Yet far too many Latinos remain victims of their ZIP code and socio-economic status when it…
Commentary
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Sobering Results on The Nation’s Report Card
Over the last quarter century, national education scores in both reading and math have modestly trended upward—until this year. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) recently released its biannual…
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Holding All Schools Hostage
Fell Charter Elementary School near Scranton will stop paying teachers next month and the school is considering a four-day week thanks to the state budget stalemate. Fell's announcement is…
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For Latinos, Education is Key to the American Dream
For many Latino-Americans, the phrase “the American Dream” conjures images of apple pie and béisbol, of education, prosperity, and familia. Education is power and the key to making the American…
Commentary
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Audio: Wolf’s Budget Tactics Harm Students
Pennsylvania is home to several innovative education programs, including the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which provides a path to a great education for low income students. CF’s James…
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Time to Send “Ghost Teachers” Back to the Future
As 1980s movie buffs know, today—Oct 21, 2015—is the day Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled forward in time in the Back to the Future films. Back to the Future predicted…
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Bill Would Send Ghost Teachers Back to School
Bill Would Send Ghost Teachers Back to School Ends Abuse of Union Work on School Time in Pittsburgh & Phila. October 20, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—With Halloween quickly…
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Wolf Claims More Student Hostages
Earlier this week, The Neighborhood Academy, a private school in Pittsburgh, held a rally in the state Capitol to highlight Gov. Wolf’s withholding tax credits for student scholarships. Pennsylvania’s Educational…
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Wolf Veto = $11 Million Bill for Taxpayers
School districts have borrowed $346 million—and taxpayers will pay to pay up to $11 million in interest payments—as a result of Gov. Wolf’s budget vetoes, according to a report…
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Audio: Protecting Teachers’ Rights and Paychecks
Teacher unions are taking money from teachers to fund political causes they do not support. Through Free to Teach, teachers like James Williams and Linda Misja are speaking…
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Cosigned: Amicus Brief Says SCOTUS Must Restore Teachers’ Rights
Cosigned: Amicus Brief Says SCOTUS Must Restore Teachers’ Rights Friedrichs Case Critical to Restoring PA Teachers’ Freedoms September 16, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—For Pennsylvania teachers and other public…
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Young Teachers Pay the Price for Pension Politics
The first month of a new school year is an exciting—but stressful—time for school teachers. This is particularly true for young, newly-hired teachers who must quickly acclimate to their students,…
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Audio: Budget Impasse Debate
With the state budget impasse in its third month, funding for critical things such as education and social services remains in question. CF’s Elizabeth Stelle spoke with WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane and opposite…
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