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
Empower students to vote with their feet
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Increasingly over the past three years, public schools and the students who attend them have become collateral damage to a culture war that…
Media Hit
Read More: Empower students to vote with their feetEducation
Democrats once again vote against helping vulnerable kids
Harrisburg, Pa., October 5, 2023 — Today,Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued the following statement in response to the Pennsylvania House Democrats’ decision to advance a fiscal code bill…
Press Release
Read More: Democrats once again vote against helping vulnerable kidsEducation
School Choice Report, Episode 18
What drives someone to take a stand for school choice when his or her peers pose fierce opposition? What are parents who want more educational choice saying to elected officials?…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 18Education
Gov. Shapiro Poised to Raid Rainy Day Fund, Unprecedented Move Violates Law and Undermines Legislature
Harrisburg, Pa., September 29, 2023 – The Commonwealth Foundation expresses strong concern that Gov. Shapiro is ignoring the law and usurping the constitutional role of the legislative branch in the state…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Shapiro Poised to Raid Rainy Day Fund, Unprecedented Move Violates Law and Undermines LegislatureEducation
Gov. Shapiro’s New Hampshire Keynote Undermined by Legislative Failures, Incomplete Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., September 29, 2023 — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was recently announced as the keynote speaker at the 2023 New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention. His appearance in Bedford, New Hampshire—one of…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s New Hampshire Keynote Undermined by Legislative Failures, Incomplete BudgetEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Voters Are Clear: “It’s the Economy, Stupid”
Harrisburg, Pa., September 28, 2023—Inflation continues to be the number one problem facing Pennsylvania voters, according to a poll released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The Common Ground in the Commonwealth…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Voters Are Clear: “It’s the Economy, Stupid”Education
Sen. Lindsey Williams supports school choice—But only for the wealthy
Originally published at The Philadelphia Tribune I don’t know what I did or said to inspire state Sen. Lindsey Williams to storm out of a recent Senate Education Committee…
Media Hit
Read More: Sen. Lindsey Williams supports school choice—But only for the wealthyEducation
State House Democrats need to do their jobs
Originally published at LNP Lawmakers have one job: Work for the people they represent. This job requirement is as old as Pennsylvania when William Penn founded the Provincial Assembly…
Media Hit
Read More: State House Democrats need to do their jobsEducation
Analysis: Shapiro Least Productive Governor with a Divided Government
Harrisburg, Pa., September 21, 2023 — Pennsylvania state lawmakers have enacted only 15 bills during the first six months of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, despite having a full-time legislature, according to…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Shapiro Least Productive Governor with a Divided GovernmentEducation
Shapiro’s Legislative Record: Last in Nation Among Divided Governments
Overview An analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation of bills enacted in the first half of 2023 reveals Pennsylvania has been the least productive among states with divided government. This analysis…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Shapiro’s Legislative Record: Last in Nation Among Divided GovernmentsEducation
School Choice Report, Episode 17
Margaret “Macke” Raymond is the Director of the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) based at Stanford University. She has steered the group to national prominence as a rigorous…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 17Education
Pennsylvanians Deserve the Truth on Education Spending
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Funding Commission has begun holding hearings on how to remake the state’s public schools funding formula after a state court determined that the existing…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvanians Deserve the Truth on Education SpendingEducation
Pa. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford’s failed leadership
Originally published in The Mercury The Pennsylvania budget remains unfinished, while Pennsylvania House lawmakers remain on vacation (in recess) until the end of September. While it’s up to Speaker…
Media Hit
Read More: Pa. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford’s failed leadershipEducation
Education Pioneer David Hardy Tells Harrisburg to Pass Lifeline Scholarships
Harrisburg, Pa., September 14, 2023 — Philadelphia education pioneer and Commonwealth Foundation Distinguished Senior Fellow David Hardy delivered powerful testimony to the state Senate Education Committee on Monday, reminding lawmakers that the…
Press Release
Read More: Education Pioneer David Hardy Tells Harrisburg to Pass Lifeline ScholarshipsEducation
A Democrat saved school choice in Maryland. Can the same thing happen in Pennsylvania?
Originally published at The Patriot-News Maryland’s targeted educational choice program was on the chopping block earlier this year. With Democrats controlling both legislative chambers and flipping the governor’s…
Commentary
Read More: A Democrat saved school choice in Maryland. Can the same thing happen in Pennsylvania?Education
School Choice Report, Episode 16
Ryan Boyer is the business manager of Laborers’ District Council and head of the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council. It’s been written that he’s a no-nonsense operator in the…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 16Education
School Choice Spotlight on Private Education
Ana, a mom to two sons, lives in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. Her youngest—awarded a four-year scholarship to a private academy in the Kensington/Port Richmond section of Philadelphia—is…
School Choice Spotlight
Read More: School Choice Spotlight on Private EducationEducation
Parental activism and public support level the playing field as government unions block Lifelines to students in failing schools.
Originally published at Broad + Liberty When government union leaders sent a letter to elected officials urging them to oppose scholarships for low-income students, they left out that part…
Media Hit
Read More: Parental activism and public support level the playing field as government unions block Lifelines to students in failing schools.Education
Americans Want Education Reform. Why Don’t Democrats?
Originally published at Newsweek Millions of American children return to school every August with new pencils and notebooks. Unfortunately, for more than a million kids, supplies are the only…
Media Hit
Read More: Americans Want Education Reform. Why Don’t Democrats?Education
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate, Urges House to Act on Educational Choice
Harrisburg, Pa., August 30, 2023 — The Pennsylvania Senate reconvened today and passed legislation necessary to complete parts of the long-overdue state budget. Returning to session three weeks earlier than…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate, Urges House to Act on Educational ChoiceEducation
School Choice Report, Episode 15
Georgia State Representative and school choice champion Mesa Mainor made headlines across the nation when she left the Democratic Party after her party attacked her when she decided to stand…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 15