Pennsylvania’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

Taxpayer-Funded, Universal Preschool in Pennsylvania: Benefits Questioned

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 13, 2007

The push toward taxpayer-funded preschool for every child in Pennsylvania continues with Governor Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year. The Governor wants $75 million for “Pre-K Counts,” which…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Taxpayer-Funded, Universal Preschool in Pennsylvania: Benefits Questioned

Education

Count the Costs of Pre-K Counts

  • June 13, 2007

Academic and financial costs of taxpayer-funded preschool questioned, alternatives proposed at news conference HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation joined with a coalition of organizations to call on lawmakers…

Press Release

Read More: Count the Costs of Pre-K Counts

Education

Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs

  • June 13, 2007

Governor Ed Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year includes $75 million for “Pre-K Counts”—a taxpayer-funded program which would provide grants to school districts, Head Start programs, and government-approved…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs

Education

Public School Students Benefit from Private Managers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 29, 2007

The Philadelphia School Reform Commission soon will be voting on a budget for the school district. Facing a projected budget deficit, the Commission is looking for ways to reduce costs,…

Commentary

Read More: Public School Students Benefit from Private Managers

Education

Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3

  • May 24, 2007

One of the most notorious abuses of taxpayers' money is the exercise of Walking-Around-Money (WAMs). These funds are set aside for use at each legislator's discretion to dish out to…

Commentary

Read More: Diet Tip of the Week, Issue 3

Education

School Choice Saves Money

  • May 9, 2007

New report identifies $144 M in savings from Educational Improvement Tax Credit HARRISBURG, PA — Giving parents and children school choices saves taxpayers’ money. This is the finding of a…

Press Release

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Education

Change the Incentives in Education

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 2, 2007

Thank you Chairman Armstrong and members of the Appropriations Committee for the opportunity to discuss the impact of Governor Rendell’s education proposals. You have already heard and are going to…

Commentary

Read More: Change the Incentives in Education

Education

Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 27, 2007

Good morning. My name is Nathan Benefield; I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation, a research and policy institute in Harrisburg. I want to thank the…

Testimony

Read More: Free-Market Approaches to Fiscal Policy

Education

Spending Restraint Needed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 14, 2007

Good afternoon. My name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. I would like to thank Chairman Armstrong and the members of the…

Testimony

Read More: Spending Restraint Needed

Education

How NOT to reduce the cost of college

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2006

Senator Joe Conti unveiled a proposal to expand the state sales tax and dedicate the revenue to Penn State University. Why? Penn State’s tuition is too high. This proposal…

Media

Read More: How NOT to reduce the cost of college

Education

The Laptop Revolution Has No Clothes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2006

Education Week editorial on the lack of evidence for “a laptop on every desk” mythology (registration required).

Media

Read More: The Laptop Revolution Has No Clothes

Education

Federal probe targets PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 4, 2006

The US Department of Education is investigating PHEAA for overbilling taxpayers for federal loan reimbursements, the Patriot News reports. I guess PHEAA will have to open their books after…

Media

Read More: Federal probe targets PHEAA

Education

Our Soviet education model

  • October 2, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Bill Steigerwald interviews the Cato Institute’s Neal McCluskey on how a number of “conservatives” have taken a “180-degree wrong turn from conservatism’s once-solid principles of limited government,…

Media

Read More: Our Soviet education model

Education

Is Our Kids Learning?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2006

Following multiple reports on student test scores, much has been made about how well Pennsylvania students are performing. In August, Governor Rendell delighted in the results from the PSSA—the state’s…

Commentary

Read More: Is Our Kids Learning?

Education

Posh dorms become the norm

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2006

AP story on the posh living quarters and lifestyles of today’s college students. As the alma mater is featured (and I must admit, I had quite the bachelor pad…

Media

Read More: Posh dorms become the norm

Education

Editorial: PHEAA should open books or lose monopoly

  • September 20, 2006

DelcoTimes suggests “If PHEAA doesn’t want to open its books, the state should open its doors to competition in the student loan field. Then residents can compare organizations and…

Media

Read More: Editorial: PHEAA should open books or lose monopoly

Education

School choice leads to less segregation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 1, 2006

Contrary to the rhetoric of many opponents of school choice, two new studies from the Milton & Rose Friedman Foundation shows that private schools participating in the voucher programs…

Media

Read More: School choice leads to less segregation

Education

The best education reform: More sleep.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 1, 2006

Wall Street Journal editorial on why schools should start their days later. I’ve never considered this from a policy point of view, but I know that for 13 years,…

Media

Read More: The best education reform: More sleep.

Education

SAT Scores and PA Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2006

SAT Scores Nationally, scores dropped, primarily attributed to a change in the test format. Pennsylania continues to lag behind, ranking 47th in the nation in average combined SAT score.

Media

Read More: SAT Scores and PA Schools