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
Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?
Several state lawmakers and parents are protesting Governor Rendell’s proposed closing of Scotland School (HT GrassrootsPA) – a school ostensibly for children of veterans – claiming we must…
Media
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Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?
Several state lawmakers and parents are protesting Governor Rendell’s proposed closing of Scotland School (HT GrassrootsPA) – a school ostensibly for children of veterans – claiming we must…
Media
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Charter Schools Always Face a Financial Struggle
Kevin Ferris has a piece in the Wall Street Journal on the difficulty that charter schools face funding their facilities. Ferris uses as his case study First Philadelphia Charter…
Media
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Repealing Prevailing Wage Would Save Schools and Taxpayers Money
Sen. Mike Brubaker this week introduced S.B. 695, proposing a three-year moratorium on the application of Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law to school construction projects. The Pennsylvania…
Media
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Vouching for D.C.
A new report from the US Department of Education finds the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program has been extremely successful. Matthew Ladner has more in NRO on the reports…
Media
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Tuition Relief Act Ready to Fold?
Governor Rendell is still traveling around the state to drum up support for his legalization of video poker scheme. At a recent stop at Reading Area Community College, Gov.
Media
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Study Shows School Vouchers are Working
The latest research on the Milwaukee school voucher program shows significant improvements in student achievement and millions of dollars in savings for state taxpayers. Interestingly, boys seem to be…
Media
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Is Another State Test the Answer?
Recently, a deal was struck between the Department of Education and Pennsylvania’s School Board Association to establish what is known as the Keystone Exams. The exams would cost the state…
Media
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Higher Education: Focus on Students not Research
A new study from AEI bolsters our claim that higher education’s obsession with (often obscure) research lowers the quality of undergraduate education. Professor Bauerlein’s paper entitled “Professors…
Media
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Bailouts and Bull
John Stossel’s latest 20/20 special on bailouts and bull debunks numerous big-government myths, including the bailout mentality. Stosell also tackles toll road privatization, universal Pre-K, medical marijuana, the border…
Media
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State Can’t Spend Its Way to Student Success
For years, the educational establishment has claimed that not enough is being spent on public schools – that if more money is pumped into the system, student achievement will improve. …
Commentary
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School Choice Battles Wage On
Mary Katherine Ham has an excellent article on the battle over the DC Scholarship Program.The Philadelphia Bulletin also has a recent article, noting an Obama spokesman has said…
Media
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Rendell Tells PSU to Cut Costs
Yesterday, the Governor met with the Pennsylvania Tuition Coalition, a student group lobbying the state to include state-related schools, like PSU, in the Governor’s tuition relief scheme. Rendell told…
Media
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Dormitory Construction Boom
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has an article on the enormous rise in spending on university buildings, which touches on the current debate in higher ed funding:…
Media
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Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009 Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We…
Testimony
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Funding for Cybers up For Debate
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story about an upcoming hearing on charter schools and cyber school funding. As I will be testifying at the hearing, I won’t repeat my…
Media
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Upcoming Opportunities for Students
The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of great opportunities for students to learn more about economics, public policy, and the importance of liberty. Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest- Win…
Media
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PHEAA: More Wasteful Spending Exposed
On Monday the CEO of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation was fired for excessive travel expenses. Michael Hershock (former head of the PHEAA) spent thousands…
Media
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Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less Government
The Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) is tired of amassing unfunded regulations from state legislators that grow school bureaucracies instead of improving education. In response, the PSBA has proposed legislation…
Media
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Stimulus money to go to PA Universities
It looks like someone has gotten around to reading the stimulus bill, and realized their is funding for higher education in there. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports state-related universities (Penn…
Media
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The Scotland School, the State Budget, and School Choice
The Morning Call has a story on Governor Rendell’s proposal to close down the Scotland School for Veterans Children, asking if it is a “pawn in the budget game”. …
Media
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