Education
What Happens in Philly Schools’ “Rubber Rooms”?
Originally published by the Philadelphia Citizen. What happens in Philadelphia schools stays in Philadelphia schools—or so it seems based on the District’s lack of transparency. As The…
Read More: What Happens in Philly Schools’ “Rubber Rooms”?Pennsylvania will only become a beacon for opportunity when its policies are in the hands of taxpayers and citizens, not special interests and bureaucrats. It’s vital that our government is accountable to the people—not organizations or institutions. Policies that advance transparency and restore workers’ rights are the keys to this happening.
Related Issues
Education
Teacher Shortages Haunt Philly Students
Philadelphia's teacher shortage is making headlines, and city council is demanding the district solve the problem. A classroom without a permanent teacher is certainly unfair to students, yet Philadelphia teachers…
Media
Read More: Teacher Shortages Haunt Philly StudentsEducation
Local Union Complains About Transparency
The school board and the local teachers union in the West Shore School District are in conflict. The two sides have been unable to agree on a contract for two…
Media
Read More: Local Union Complains About TransparencyEducation
Faculty Benefits Driving Up Tuition Costs
APSCUF—the union representing faculty at state-owned universities—has begun a vote to authorize a strike. One of APSCUF's complaints with the proposed contract is higher health care expenses. In…
Media
Read More: Faculty Benefits Driving Up Tuition CostsGovernment Accountability
Transparency Improves the Collective Bargaining Process
On August 30, Secretary of Administration Sharon Minnich announced the details of a new three-year labor agreement between the Wolf Administration and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal…
Media
Read More: Transparency Improves the Collective Bargaining ProcessEducation
Judge: District Exaggerated Shortfall, Improperly Raised Taxes
Lower Merion School District must revoke a portion of its most recent tax hike, according to a Montgomery County court. In his ruling, Judge Joseph A. Smyth said the…
Media
Read More: Judge: District Exaggerated Shortfall, Improperly Raised TaxesEducation
Public Remains Supportive of School Choice
That’s the upshot of the 10th annual public opinion survey from Education Next, which covers a range of topics including school choice, school spending, personnel policy, testing, and accountability.
Media
Read More: Public Remains Supportive of School ChoiceEducation
Understanding Your School District?s Labor Contract
CF reviewed labor contracts in each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts and uncovered several interesting findings. These contracts, known as collective bargaining agreements, are negotiated behind closed doors between…
Media
Read More: Understanding Your School District?s Labor ContractGovernment Accountability
School District Labor Contracts: Surprising Provisions
More than 1.7 million students rely on Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts to meet their diverse educational needs. School boards from each district agree to collective bargaining agreements (labor contracts) with local teachers’…
Memo
Read More: School District Labor Contracts: Surprising ProvisionsEducation
Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights
Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights Forced Unionism, Ghost Teachers Among Ways Contracts Exploit Teachers August 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As students across Pennsylvania head back to…
Press Release
Read More: Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ RightsPublic Union Democracy
Poll: Union Leaders Out of Touch, Too Powerful
Poll: Union Leaders Out of Touch, Too Powerful Just 25% of Current or Former Union Members Say Union Leaders Represent Workers Well August 11, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Out of…
Press Release
Read More: Poll: Union Leaders Out of Touch, Too PowerfulGovernment Accountability
Introducing Commonwealth Insight, a Biweekly Podcast
We're excited to announce the launch of Commonwealth Insight, a biweekly podcast where we'll bring you conversations with thought leaders and influencers from around our state and the country.
Media
Read More: Introducing Commonwealth Insight, a Biweekly PodcastPublic Union Democracy
DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host City
DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host City Philadelphians Suffering, Fleeing Due to Policies that Hurt Economic Growth July 21, 2016, Philadelphia, Pa.—As all…
Press Release
Read More: DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host CityGovernment Accountability
Unlearned State Budget Lessons
Charles Mitchell, newly appointed President and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, appeared last week on PMA Perspective to discuss this year’s state budget process and the “unlearned lessons” of last…
Media
Read More: Unlearned State Budget LessonsEducation
PSERS Revokes Ghost Teachers? Illegal Pension Credit
In a victory for taxpayers, the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) has revoked pension credit illegally given to Allentown “ghost teachers” who were hired to teach but instead…
Media
Read More: PSERS Revokes Ghost Teachers? Illegal Pension CreditPublic Union Democracy
Union Demands vs. Fiscal Realities
One government union’s insatiable appetite for more tax dollars has hit a brick wall. The Wolf Administration is in the process of negotiating a contract with the state’s largest…
Media
Read More: Union Demands vs. Fiscal RealitiesCriminal Justice Reform
My Journey to Commonwealth Foundation’s Board
How did a registered Democrat and the daughter of former Democratic Governor George Leader find a place on Commonwealth Foundation’s Board? …
Commentary
Read More: My Journey to Commonwealth Foundation’s BoardEducation
The Taxpayers? False Choice
Governor Wolf and legislative leaders present Pennsylvanians with two options. The first requires taxpayers to fork over hundreds of millions in higher taxes. The second calls for steep cuts…
Media
Read More: The Taxpayers? False ChoicePublic Union Democracy
Our Collision Course with Pa.’s Pension Iceberg
As Pennsylvania continues approaching the public pension iceberg at full speed, how can we avoid a collision? Simply put, through reforms that mirror steps taken by the private sector years…
Commentary
Read More: Our Collision Course with Pa.’s Pension IcebergPublic Union Democracy
PA’s Long Tradition of Faux Pension Reform
Pennsylvania's pension problem is nothing new. Over the years, lawmakers have tried to salvage the fundamentally broken system instead of creating a system that works. The latest attempt, SB…
Media
Read More: PA’s Long Tradition of Faux Pension ReformGovernment Accountability
Local School District Leads the Way on Transparency
The Quakertown Community School Board (QCSB) is scrapping a conventional collective bargaining practice. Normally, unions and public employers don’t reveal the details of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) until after…
Media
Read More: Local School District Leads the Way on TransparencyGovernment Accountability
A Superhero President? Dream On
Note: This commentary appeared in the Lancaster LNP, among other news outlets. If the thought of Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in the Oval Office frightens you, you’re not…
Commentary
Read More: A Superhero President? Dream On