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
Sen. Pat Browne Talks School & Liquor Choice
In the latest edition of The BOX Program podcast, State Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne sits down sits down with Matt Brouillette. Sen. Browne discusses school choice and liquor store…
Media
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Parents to Pa. House: We Need School Choice!
Listen to the lives and pleas of three parents with children trapped in failure factories, who tell House members why school choice is their only way out, their only hope.
Commentary
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Pa. Kids are Learning ZIP!
You’ve heard of A Tale of Two Cities? Well, how about the tale of two city blocks? For 82,000 kids trapped in violent and failing…
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34 Seconds of Truth Vs. $2 million of Fallacy
It’s getting late in Harrisburg and defenders of the education status quo are pulling out all the stops in order to thwart a rescue of 82,000…
Media
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Facts vs. Silly Rhetoric on School Choice
Tonight, I am speaking at a forum on school choice, and wanted to find some absurd, outlandish, and easily refuted claims from school choice opponents to lead with. Thanks…
Media
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WIFM? All the Difference in the World
As Gov. Corbett and the General Assembly consider a package of education reform bills, some legislators are asking “What’s in it for me?” The WIFM question isn’t necessarily selfish or…
Media
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Rep.: Pa. Ed Needs 1st Class Not Third-World Results
One of the most controversial and emotional issues facing our Commonwealth involves the future of the education system. The media's attempt to reduce nearly every major complicated issue…
Commentary
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School Choice Saves, School Choice Sells
Harrisburg is atwitter this morning as the Senate Education Committee is voting on school choice legislation. Let’s quickly rebut three myths that are circulating: School choice saves money. It’s…
Media
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Ackerman: School Choice Necessary to Reform Failing Schools
In case you missed it, former Philadelphia superintendent Arlene Ackerman emphatically endorsed vouchers and an expanded charter school system as the best way to rescue kids in failing schools. She writes:…
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Want a 70% Approval Rating?
Let’s be real. One of the things that often gets CF into trouble is that from the outside, it seems like we never need to worry about whether the free-market…
Media
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School Choice: Accountable and Successful
Here is a recent letter I submitted to the Delaware County Times: A recent story carries the title, “Educators oppose guv’s voucher plan,” though the story quotes no…
Media
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Willie and Penny Can’t Read
We'll call them Willie, Penny, Ben and Frankie, four public school students from Philadelphia, Reading, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, respectively. If they don't drop out of school and become clients of…
Commentary
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School Choice Saves Kids, Taxpayers $4 Billion
Critics of expanding school choice in Pennsylvania often claim it will “cost too much” or drain precious resources. But in fact, school choice already saves Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $4…
Media
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Truth About Failing Schools is Scary
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released an analysis updating violence statistics from failing public schools. These 141 schools with data available all rank in the bottom-5 percent based on…
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Analysis Finds Failing Public Schools Racked by Violence
The Commonwealth Foundation released today an alarming new analysis of school violence that uncovered more than 4,500 criminal acts occurred at the 141 public schools scoring worst in the…
Press Release
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Pennsylvania’s Failing, Violent Schools
Nearly 82,000 children are enrolled in the 141 public schools with available data on violence in Pennsylvania's lowest-performing 5 percent on student proficiency. These schools reported more than 4,500 violent…
Fact Sheet
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How Does Your Public School Stack up Against the World?
The George W. Bush Institute has a new “Global Report Card” looking at test scores for each school district in the United States against students around the world…
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Charter School Funding in Pennsylvania
Many school districts and other advocates complain about the charter school funding mechanism, arguing that it "drains funding" from school districts. This charge must be considered in the context of…
Fact Sheet
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The Learning Revolution
Online learning serves a significant and growing number of students, and represents a significant shift in how we educate Pennsylvania's children. In light of the growth of cyber and hybrid…
Report
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Taxpayer-Funded Lobbyists’ Survey Contradicts Real Polls
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association has released a new “survey” claiming that state residents oppose plans to provide vouchers to students. The PSBA’s funding comes from taxpayers through school…
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Lawmakers Can Save Students in Duquesne
Jake Haulk at the Allegheny Institute points out that Duquesne City School District spends almost $20,000 per student every year (state average is about $14,000). But less than…
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