Education 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.

Education

Give Teachers the Freedom to Choose

  • June 24, 2014

Let teachers worry about teaching; let politicians worry about politics. That’s been my mantra throughout my career as an educator. But, sadly, most public school teachers in Pennsylvania don’t have…

Commentary

Read More: Give Teachers the Freedom to Choose

Education

Why I Left Teaching: Union Politics

  • June 17, 2014

I taught science full-time for more than two decades and enjoyed a rewarding career educating a generation of public school students in Westmoreland County. I retired from teaching earlier than…

Commentary

Read More: Why I Left Teaching: Union Politics

Education

Union Leaders’ Lobbying Hurts Teachers, Students

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2014

Last week we highlighted a California judge who ruled that laws enforcing teacher seniority and tenure were unconstitutional and violated students’ rights to a quality education. But here in…

Media

Read More: Union Leaders’ Lobbying Hurts Teachers, Students

Education

Politics Threatens Progress in Pittsburgh

  • June 13, 2014

Results from Pittsburgh’s new teacher evaluation system were unveiled today, identifying both excellent teachers and those that need improvement. The goal of this new evaluation system is to allow the…

Media

Read More: Politics Threatens Progress in Pittsburgh

Education

A Fair Funding Formula: School Choice

  • Jessica Barnett
  • June 12, 2014

Although it doesn’t fit the popular narrative of cash-starved school districts, spending on education is at an all-time high. The Pennsylvania Department of Education budget reached $11.2 billion in FY…

Media

Read More: A Fair Funding Formula: School Choice

Education

Students Win over Seniority Laws

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2014

Big news out of California, where a state judge struck down that state’s teacher seniority and tenure laws. The lawsuit was filed by 9 students who believed that…

Media

Read More: Students Win over Seniority Laws

Education

An Inconvenient Truth: School Spending & Revenue at All-Time Highs

  • June 10, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Contrary to Cries of Desperation, District Revenue & Spending are at All-Time Highs Spending on Salaries Dwarfed by Pension Costs…

Press Release

Read More: An Inconvenient Truth: School Spending & Revenue at All-Time Highs

Education

Political Fairness Issue Goes Before Lawmakers

  • June 5, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Legal Loophole Exploits Taxpayers & Union Members for Politics Paycheck Protection Promises to Restore Fairness & Accountability June 5,…

Press Release

Read More: Political Fairness Issue Goes Before Lawmakers

Education

Five Facts on Pennsylvania Public Schools

  • June 4, 2014

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released its annual summary of public school finances for the 2012-13 school year. Here are some basic facts about school finances and spending,…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Five Facts on Pennsylvania Public Schools

Education

Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 30, 2014

Standard & Poor’s recently issued a stern warning that they would lower Pennsylvania’s bond rating—making it more expensive for the state to borrow money—unless they “adopt meaningful pension reform.” This…

Commentary

Read More: Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & Taxpayers

Education

Philadelphia Charter Schools Fight for Students

  • Jessica Barnett
  • May 23, 2014

In the search for a solution to its nearly $30 million year-end deficit—not to mention a projected $216 million budget gap next year—the School District of Philadelphia is once…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia Charter Schools Fight for Students

Education

PA Teacher Speaks Out on Union Issues

  • May 16, 2014

Last Wednesday, CF President Matt Brouillette guest hosted WHP580’s Ken Matthews Show in Harrisburg. Matt spent some time talking to Keith Williams, a high school English teacher from New Oxford…

Media

Read More: PA Teacher Speaks Out on Union Issues

Education

Ignoring Pension Costs Won’t Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2014

We’ve mentioned before the big lie of “$1 billion cut from education.”  Part of the reason that lie continues is that union executives ignore a big chunk of education…

Media

Read More: Ignoring Pension Costs Won’t Work

Education

School Spending is the Issue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2014

My letter to the editor in yesterday’s York Daily Record addresses some inaccuracies about education spending in Pennsylvania. Your editorial on education funding (“Funding formula a good…

Media

Read More: School Spending is the Issue

Education

Fewer Districts Seek Big Property Tax Hikes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 8, 2014

Government union leaders like to claim mythical state education funding cuts caused widespread school property tax increases. But new data shows fewer school districts are actually receiving exceptions…

Media

Read More: Fewer Districts Seek Big Property Tax Hikes

Education

SAT Scores Slip While Spending Soars

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 16, 2014

Pennsylvania education spending is at at all-time high and ranks near the top in dollars spent per student among the states. But all of that extra spending isn’t helping kids…

Media

Read More: SAT Scores Slip While Spending Soars

Education

Playing the Education Lottery

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2014

Last month, families from across Pennsylvania waited anxiously to hear if they had finally won the lottery. But these hopeful parents weren’t looking to win the MegaMillions—they were hoping for…

Commentary

Read More: Playing the Education Lottery

Education

Time for Paycheck Protection in Pa

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 17, 2014

The government liquor monopoly, the pension time bomb, and Philadelphia’s public school crisis—what do they have in common? Each of these public policy disasters was supported by government unions. What’s…

Commentary

Read More: Time for Paycheck Protection in Pa

Education

Charter School Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 14, 2014

Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the vice president of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation. I wish to thank Auditor General DePasquale for the opportunity to…

Testimony

Read More: Charter School Reform

Education

The $1 Billion Lie Exposed

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 4, 2014

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) took out full-page, color ads in several major state newspapers last week proclaiming Gov. Corbett “closed neighborhood schools” and laid off teachers in Philadelphia…

Media

Read More: The $1 Billion Lie Exposed

Education

A Public School Funding SOS

  • Priya Brannick
  • February 28, 2014

The governor has proposed $10.1 billion for public schools, slightly higher than last year, which was then a record high. So what’s all the fuss about cuts?  At the same…

Commentary

Read More: A Public School Funding SOS