Education
Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocates
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer After a more than eight-year slog, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court affirmed what the Pennsylvania Constitution has said all…
Read More: Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocatesEducation is the first stepping-stone on the path to success, but Pennsylvania students face severe inequality among public school districts. Thousands who can’t afford private school are trapped in failing schools or situations that aren’t the right fit. The solution to this crisis is school choice. By offering families options outside their zip code-assigned district schools, students are better able to find their path to success. Charter schools, tax credit scholarships, education savings accounts (ESAs), homeschooling, and other types of education choice must become a priority in Pennsylvania.
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Making the Most of New Funding Formula
A recent report from ABC 27 asks: “Will lawmakers stick with new education funding formula next year?” At issue is whether Pennsylvania’s student-based formula will be retained in…
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Budget Complete as Fiscal Code Becomes Law
Late on Friday afternoon, Gov. Tom Wolf quietly announced the fiscal code will become law without his signature. This significant development closes the door on a tumultuous year of…
Media
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Changing Lives with Education Savings Accounts
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) empower parents to personalize the academic experience for their children, as CF explains in a recent policy brief. But ESAs are about more than school…
Media
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Give Children the Best: Education Savings Accounts
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) empower parents to design the best educational experience for their children. How do they work? Funding otherwise earmarked for K-12 education is deposited into an…
Media
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Governor Wolf’s 2015-16 Budget Myths
Governor Wolf claimed the 2015-16 budget could not be balanced without significant tax hikes. But there are two ways exist to close a budget deficit: raise revenue or cut spending.
Memo
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Education Spending Trends: April 2016
Pennsylvania’s FY 2015-16 budget was finalized in late March when Gov. Tom Wolf allowed HB 1801, a supplemental funding bill, to become law. This legislation appropriated an additional $3.1 billion…
Memo
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Give Children the Best: Education Savings Accounts
Education Savings Accounts (ESA) empower parents to design the best educational experience for their children. …
Fact Sheet
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Wolf’s Cockamamie Concoction
Matt Brouillette pointed out in his latest commentary that Gov. Wolf is taking a “lone-wolf” approach to governing. The latest example is his unilateral action to distribute school funding…
Media
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The Final Piece of Budget Business in Limbo
After nine months of gridlock, Gov. Tom Wolf finally surrendered his 2015 quest for higher taxes on families and small businesses. On Monday morning, Pennsylvania will enjoy a completed state…
Media
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Taxpayers Win As Wolf Allows Budget to Become Law
Taxpayers Win As Wolf Allows Budget to Become Law Gov. Abandons 2015-16 Tax Hikes, Releases Record Funding for Cash-Strapped Schools March 23, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—After keeping Pennsylvania in budget…
Press Release
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Will Wolf Ignore Schools’ Pleas, Veto Education Funding?
Will Wolf Ignore Schools’ Pleas, Veto Education Funding? Districts Nearing Financial Collapse as Governor Threatens Veto March 22, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Nearly one week after the legislature voted to send…
Press Release
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Wolf’s “Plague” on Public Education
Schools across Pennsylvania are feeling the squeeze from Gov. Tom Wolf’s $3 billion education funding cut. In Red Lion, Carbondale, Plum, and Erie—to name just…
Media
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No, We’re Not Underfunding Public Schools
My latest op-ed at PennLive debunks several school funding myths that continue to haunt Pennsylvania: While local school revenue is notably high (6th in the nation), state revenue…
Media
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School Funding Myths Debunked
Can Pennsylvania do better when it comes to educating our children? Absolutely. But playing “myths for money” will never lead to real solutions for families and students.
Commentary
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Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown Millions
Allentown School District is no stranger to financial troubles. The third largest public school system in the commonwealth has been in financial distress for years. In 2011, the district…
Media
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A Tale of Two School Districts
North Allegheny School District and Pittsburgh School District are barely a dozen miles apart, but their budgeting approaches for the next fiscal year are worlds apart. Thanks to rising pension…
Media
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Taxpayer-Funded Union Politics in Philadelphia
It's no secret that the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) plucks teachers out of the classroom to work as full-time union operatives. These individuals are known as ghost teachers—and their…
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State Supremes Strike Down Charter Caps
Pennsylvania’s legislature granted extraordinary powers to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) when they created the body in 2001. Tasked with shoring up the district’s finances, the SRC was authorized to suspend…
Media
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Wolf Tops $1 Billion in New Education Spending
As expected, a cornerstone of Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal is a massive increase in state support of public schools. The administration seeks a $1.1 billion increase over the record-high funding…
Media
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Wolf Doubles Down: Highest Spending Increase in 25 Years
Wolf Doubles Down: Highest Spending Increase in 25 Years Slaps Pennsylvanians with $850 per Family of Four Tax Increase February 9, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, Gov. Tom Wolf doubled…
Press Release
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Pennsylvania Education Spending Trends
Pennsylvania school districts spent $26.1 billion in 2013-14, an all-time high, according to the latest data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This represents a $600 million increase from 2012-13.
Memo
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