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
When Desperation Sets In
This is what desperation looks like. Gov. Tom Wolf recently visited Downingtown Area School District and claimed the no-tax-increase budget he recently vetoed “includes only $8 million…
Media
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Fixated on Tax Increases
At the end of last month, Gov. Wolf vetoed the Republicans’ budget, criticizing it for failing to meet his lofty goals of closing the structural deficit, increasing education funding…
Media
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The Illustrated Pennsylvania State Budget
There’s a lot of misinformation being thrown around about the Pennsylvania state budget and education spending. While folk are entitled to their own opinions, they aren’t entitled to their own…
Media
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Ink Running Dry on Wolf?s Veto Pen
Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto pen may be running out of ink. In the span of one week, Pennsylvania’s “different kind of governor” vetoed a no-tax-hike budget, liquor privatization,…
Media
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Gov. Wolf, Don’t Raises Taxes on Working People
My letter to the editor in the Pocono Record tackles some of the myths about educations spending and Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increase—and why, after the House of Represented rejected…
Media
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House Votes to Protect Excellent Teachers
Seniority-based teacher furloughs may soon become a relic of the past for Pennsylvania public schools. On Tuesday evening, the state House approved Rep. Stephen Bloom’s HB 805—the Protecting…
Media
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Devil in the Details for New Funding Formula
Much of the reaction to the Basic Education Funding Commission’s final report has been positive—and…
Media
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Government Union Puts Politics Ahead of Teachers
One government union is putting its political preferences and self-interest above the interests of public school teachers. Now, teachers are fighting back. Jane Ladley, who recently retired from teaching after…
Media
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Education Commission Proposes Smarter, Student-Based Spending
Education Commission Proposes Smarter,Student-Based Spending Commission Tailors Funding to Student Need, Rejects Broken Status-Quo Good afternoon, The Commonwealth Foundation has long advocated for an education funding formula…
Press Release
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Audio: A New Solution for Underperforming Public Schools
A piece of legislation recently passed the Senate Education Committee that would provide a new solution for underperforming public schools. CF’s James Paul spoke with WSBA’s Gary Sutton about…
Media
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School Districts Overwhelmed by Pension Costs
Pennsylvania’s public sector pension crisis is undeniable. Consider the burden it places on local school districts, whose pension contributions increased from $1.4 billion in 2012-13 to $1.9…
Media
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District Reserve Funds Continue to Rise
Contrary to claims about budget cuts to public education, Pennsylvania school districts continue to accumulate large reserve funds, up to $4.1 billion in 2013-14. This amounts to more than 15 percent…
Media
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Examining State Aid for Public Schools
State revenue to school districts reached an all-time high in 2013-14, at $9.7 billion. In part 2 of our week-long series on education finance in the commonwealth, take a look at…
Media
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Another Year, Another Record High in School Spending
Pennsylvania spent $26.1 billion on public schools in 2013-14. According to state data, this amounts to a $600 million increase over the 2012-13 baseline. As you can…
Media
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A Solution for Persistently Failing Schools
Amidst a flurry of hearings on severance taxes, incomes taxes, and pension reform, a piece of legislation with less fanfare advanced with bipartisan support out of the…
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School Spending Update, 2013-14
The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released new expenditure and revenue figures for the 2013-14 school year. This memo presents trends in school spending, revenue, pension contributions, district fund balances,…
Memo
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Will Tax Shifting Help Public Schools?
As I pointed out yesterday in a chart and blog post, Pennsylvania spends significantly more per student on public schools than the national average. Moreover, increased spending has…
Media
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Chart: Education Funding Per Student
There is an ongoing myth that Pennsylvania underfunds public schools because our “state share” is low. Let’s set the record straight. As a reminder, schools receive revenue from local, state,…
Media
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Charters Drowning in Red Tape
What could your family, business, or place of work do with an extra 700 hours? This is a question Pennsylvania charter schools are likely asking after a new report from…
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Testimony: Natural Gas Tax Costs Jobs, Threatens Family Budgets
Natural Gas Tax Costs Jobs, Threatens Family Budgets Fixing Pensions & School Funding Formula Better Solutions for Education Good morning, Today, Commonwealth Foundation Vice President of Policy Analysis Nathan…
Press Release
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Natural Gas Severance Tax
Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources Energy Committee And Finance Committee Good afternoon. I want to thank Chairmen Yaw and Yudichak and Chairmen Eichelberger and Blake, along with the…
Testimony
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