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
What the PHEAA is Going On?
The Patriot News reports that former Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) boss Michael Hershock got $200,000 in a settlement over his 2009 firing. To recap, he was fired…
Media
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80 Ideas for a Prosperous Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania must undergo a rapid transformation to reverse the poor policy decisions that have eroded economic freedoms and brought the state to its present condition. To provide a roadmap for…
Report
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How Corbett can Balance the Budget without Raising Taxes
Even before Gov.-elect Tom Corbett raises his right hand high Tuesday swearing to tackle the problems left from the previous administration's tax-borrow-and-spend agenda, doubters are lining up to take potshots…
Commentary
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Success Makes School Choice Take Top Priority
Senators Jeffrey Piccola and Anthony Williams announced The Opportunity Scholarship Act, which expands school choice in Pennsylvania by creating a voucher program for low-income students and increases the state’s…
Media
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More Bad News for Minority Students in Philadelphia Public Schools
How are African-American males faring in Philadelphia public schools? According to a report recently released by the Council of Great City Schools, not very well. The report, “A Call…
Media
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Report: School Choice Could Save PA Tax Dollars
The Foundation for Educational Choice has a new analysis out, suggesting that the federal “Race to the Top” (RTTP) funding from the stimulus bill should be used to…
Media
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School Choice Push Extends Nationwide
Pennsylvania Governor-elect Tom Corbett has indicated strong support support for school choice, but he won’t be alone in the fight. Joining him in this push is Governor-elect…
Media
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PA School Districts Creating Online Options in Response to Cyber Schools
As reported in the Valley News Dispatch, Pennsylvania school districts continue to add online options in response to students leaving for public cyber schools. Two things to…
Media
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Choosing Schools
Recently, Bruno Manno in Education Week explains that approximately 29 million students are enrolled in the school of their choice (free registration required). This means that over 50…
Media
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What to Do About Teacher Strikes
Pennsylvania once again led the nation in teacher strikes. Although only 13 states permit them, Pennsylvania tops the chart again as more students are deprived of up to 180…
Media
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PSEA Up to Their Old Tricks
I’ve dealt with teachers’ unions for a lot of years in a lot of states in my on-going efforts to bring greater educational options to students and parents, and one…
Media
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Why Do PA College Grads Have so Much Debt?
Pennsylvania college grads are accumulating staggering levels of debt—higher than the national average. Sunday’s Tribune-Review reports the all-too-common story of young college grads tens of thousands of dollars in…
Media
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‘Delivering on the Mandate’ forum brings together policy leaders, concerned citizens
A passionate panel of experts on school choice and smart state spending gathered today for the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Delivering on the Mandate” Policy & Principles Luncheon. According to school choice…
Media
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Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Favor School Choice
Harrisburg, PA—Pennsylvania voters elected a Governor last Tuesday who is committed to school choice, sending a message that our children’s right to an excellent education is one they are…
Press Release
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Bethel Park Teachers Strike
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that Bethel Park teachers were on strike for the sixth time in thirty years. Interrupting classes in order to negotiate taxpayer-funded salaries and benefits…
Media
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Pennsylvania Voters Hit the Brakes on Runaway Government
HARRISBURG, PA — Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Matthew J. Brouillette released the following statement regarding yesterday’s general election: “Yesterday, millions of Pennsylvanians collectively hit the brakes on runaway government…
Press Release
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What’s Missing in Higher Education
While inputs like SAT scores, class rank, and GPA are plentiful, there are very few measures of college outputs, and the ones that are reported are very concerning. An analysis…
Media
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Gov. Rendell Vetoes Education Bill
Last week, Gov. Rendell vetoed an education bill that combined several smaller pieces of legislation. Rendell did not like a provision that would declare charter school buildings owned by…
Media
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Further Evidence on School Choice
During last week’s hearing on school choice in Pennsylvania, some lawmakers questioned the evidence of the benefits of school choice programs,…
Media
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Enlow Hammers Home the Benefits of School Choice
Yesterday in the PA Senate, Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice, spoke on the issue of school vouchers and their applicability in the state…
Media
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Auditor General Hits the Wrong Target
Here is a note I sent to Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner regarding his call for a moratorium on new charter schools until the funding mechanism is “fixed”:…
Media
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