Education
Pennsylvania’s Education Tax Credit Scholarships: How EITC Serves Children and Families in the Commonwealth
Key Findings Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) are state tax credit programs that give thousands of low- to middle- income students access to…
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Education Tax Credit Scholarships: How EITC Serves Children and Families in the CommonwealthPennsylvania’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
How to Increase Teacher Pay
Few people will disagree that the best school teachers are often paid less than they deserve. But even fewer people agree when it comes to figuring out what to do…
Commentary
Read More: How to Increase Teacher PayEducation
Pennsylvania Needs School Board Rent Control
Pennsylvanians are once again being reminded this spring that they never actually own their homes; they only “rent” them from their local school board. As school districts across the commonwealth…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs School Board Rent ControlEducation
Referendum: School Taxes
Pennsylvania homeowners lack the right to vote on school property tax increases, while citizens in 44 other states enjoy some form of taxpayer protection. As Pennsylvania legislators debate whether or…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Referendum: School TaxesEducation
The Fight for Educational Freedom
Matthew J. Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation, delivered the following remarks at The Heritage Foundation's Resource Bank dinner in Chicago on May 29, 2004, in honor of Virginia Walden-Ford,…
Commentary
Read More: The Fight for Educational FreedomEducation
Set Our Teachers Free!
Remarks of Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, The Commonwealth Foundation I'm Matthew Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation. Prior to moving into the world of public policy, I…
Commentary
Read More: Set Our Teachers Free!Education
Racial Bias in Pennsylvania Special Education
If you are an African-American or Hispanic male in a predominantly White public school in Pennsylvania, there's a good chance you have been labeled as "Learning Disabled." That is the…
Commentary
Read More: Racial Bias in Pennsylvania Special EducationEducation
Racial Bias in Pennsylvania Special Education
Executive Summary…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Racial Bias in Pennsylvania Special EducationEducation
Quantity Counts 2004
What do you do when you want more money and you already boast the 3rd highest per-pupil revenue in the nation and the highest teacher salaries in the country, when…
Commentary
Read More: Quantity Counts 2004Education
Pennsylvanias Education Funding Gap
Executive Summary…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvanias Education Funding GapEducation
Should Pennsylvania Consolidate Its School Districts?
Rep. Victor Lescovitz (D-Beaver) wants to consolidate Pennsylvania’s 501 school districts into 67 districts or fewer, in an effort to reduce costs. While a few states are going in the…
Commentary
Read More: Should Pennsylvania Consolidate Its School Districts?Education
School Construction and Electoral Participation
Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation…
Commentary
Read More: School Construction and Electoral ParticipationEducation
Governor Rendells Rewarding Results & Accountability
Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation Thank you Chairman Stairs and members of the Committee for the invitation to testify this afternoon on Governor Rendell’s “Rewarding Results and…
Commentary
Read More: Governor Rendells Rewarding Results & AccountabilityEducation
Governor Rendells Early Childhood Investment Fund
Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation Good afternoon, and thank you Chairman Stairs and members of the Committee for the opportunity to address the topic of early childhood…
Commentary
Read More: Governor Rendells Early Childhood Investment FundEducation
What $17.4 Billion Cant Buy
There are few things in Pennsylvania that $17,438,840,000 cannot buy. Yet in signing the 2003-04 Budget, Governor Rendell told Pennsylvanians that $10,400 average per-pupil revenue is simply not enough to…
Commentary
Read More: What $17.4 Billion Cant BuyEducation
Getting More, Paying Less: Children, Taxpayers, and Public Schools Benefit from the Educational Improvement Tax Credit
Executive Summary The public school system is one of the most expansive and expensive government monopolies in America. Yet both real-world experience and economic research suggest that this monopoly of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Getting More, Paying Less: Children, Taxpayers, and Public Schools Benefit from the Educational Improvement Tax CreditEducation
School Taxes and Education Quality: Rendells Rhetoric Versus Reality
Governor Rendell’s inaugural speech reiterated his campaign promise to reform Pennsylvania’s school funding and property tax system while boosting the state’s share of total school revenue to 50 percent. But…
Commentary
Read More: School Taxes and Education Quality: Rendells Rhetoric Versus RealityEducation
Waiting at the Cradle
"Hey, what about the kids?" That is the slogan for a multimillion-dollar public relations campaign called "Focus Five for Kids," created to highlight children's issues during the Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaign.
Commentary
Read More: Waiting at the CradleEducation
Property Tax & School Funding Reform: The Michigan Experience and Principles for Pennsylvania
Executive Summary After decades of relative inaction, Pennsylvania policymakers may finally tackle the issue of property-tax and school-funding reform. While states such as Michigan have already substantively addressed the problem…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Property Tax & School Funding Reform: The Michigan Experience and Principles for PennsylvaniaEducation
The Pennsylvania State (Everything But) Education Association
Almost as predictable as the beginning of the football season is the start of the strike season by public school employees in Pennsylvania. And the kick-off to the 2002-03 school…
Commentary
Read More: The Pennsylvania State (Everything But) Education AssociationEducation
Statewide Teacher Contract Will Destroy The Teaching Profession In Pennsylvania
Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation Thank you Mr. Chairman, Rep. Wilt, and Members of the House Labor Relations Committee for the invitation to testify this morning on…
Commentary
Read More: Statewide Teacher Contract Will Destroy The Teaching Profession In PennsylvaniaEducation
The Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Lobbying Politicians, and Increasing Taxes
Executive Summary Originally founded as the Pennsylvania State Teachers Association in 1852, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) has transformed itself from a professional development organization for educators into one…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Lobbying Politicians, and Increasing Taxes