Education
The kids are not all right
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Our children’s test scores are down. They haven’t even reached pre-Covid levels, which wasn’t anything to brag about then. And the students are…
Read More: The kids are not all rightEducation 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.
Related Issues
Education
Overcoming the Philadelphia School Crisis
Think there's a problem with Philadelphia's schools? You're not alone. More than half of Philadelphia voters said their schools deserved a D or an F grade in a poll released…
Commentary
Read More: Overcoming the Philadelphia School CrisisEducation
Rendell’s Legacy Handcuffs Schools
Former Governor Ed Rendell wrote to the Philadelphia Inquirer and took issue with our policy points on Philadelphia school trends. The Inquirer…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s Legacy Handcuffs SchoolsEducation
Ten Thousand Lifeboats
In 2001, Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to enact an education tax credit aimed at corporations. Since then, the popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program has…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Ten Thousand LifeboatsEducation
Misconceptions Cloud School Funding Debate
Would you believe that nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania’s voters underestimate how much money we spend on schools? Shocking but true, according to a new poll testing the public’s knowledge of…
Commentary
Read More: Misconceptions Cloud School Funding DebateEducation
Union Executives “Neutral” on Protecting Children
Legislation to protect children from predators in the classroom has stalled in Harrisburg. Union executives are standing in the way. Currently, teachers who sexually abuse or have…
Media
Read More: Union Executives “Neutral” on Protecting ChildrenEducation
Lies from PSEA Leadership
Repeating the same lie over and over does not make it magically come true. Yet this hasn’t stopped the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) leadership from an…
Media
Read More: Lies from PSEA LeadershipEducation
Audio: 73% of PA Voters Underestimate School Spending
Yesterday, we released a new poll showing just how confused voters are about state education spending levels and the results that money is buying. When 54% of voters say…
Media
Read More: Audio: 73% of PA Voters Underestimate School SpendingEducation
Education Spending Poll
Nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania voters underestimate the amount the state spends on education. And when informed of the facts, support for boosting education funding by hiking taxes dropped significantly.
Poll
Read More: Education Spending PollEducation
Poll: Voters Vastly Underestimate Education Spending, Majority Grade Schools D or F
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Voters Underestimate Education Spending, Majority Grade Public Schools D or F Appetite for Higher Taxes Drops When Achievement Facts Revealed…
Press Release
Read More: Poll: Voters Vastly Underestimate Education Spending, Majority Grade Schools D or FEducation
Pension Costs Forcing Teacher Layoffs
We’ve debunked on this blog the “billion dollar education cut” myth time and time again. Yet another common refrain—even among those who admit state…
Media
Read More: Pension Costs Forcing Teacher LayoffsEducation
Podcast: Teachers Opt Out of Union Membership
As part of National Employee Freedom Week, we sat down with two western Pennsylvania teachers who successfully left their teachers’ unions last year. John Cress is a middle school…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Teachers Opt Out of Union MembershipEducation
School Reserves Offer Pension Reform Opportunity
Despite the rhetoric of “billions of dollars” in cuts from education, school districts across Pennsylvania have been able to increase their reserve funds. School districts had a combined reserve fund…
Media
Read More: School Reserves Offer Pension Reform OpportunityEducation
More on Philadelphia School Trends
Philadelphia-based Research for Action (RFA) took issue with CF’s Policy Points on spending, enrollment, and staffing trends in the School District of Philadelphia. The…
Media
Read More: More on Philadelphia School TrendsEducation
Teachers Call for More Freedom, Choices
Heather Lister and Joe Connolly are both Pennsylvania educators, and they couldn’t be more different. Heather is a 25-year-old library media specialist and a registered Democrat. Joe is a veteran…
Media
Read More: Teachers Call for More Freedom, ChoicesEducation
For Teachers, Knowledge is Power
Like any other group of professionals, teachers are a diverse lot, holding vastly differing social, cultural, and political views. So why is it that they’re lumped together and forced to…
Commentary
Read More: For Teachers, Knowledge is PowerEducation
Seniority Reform is Pro-Child, not Anti-Teacher
It seems clear that there is widespread agreement—across party lines and ideological barriers—that we must address school seniority rules and tenure reform. Check out this stunning video from MSNBC’s Morning…
Media
Read More: Seniority Reform is Pro-Child, not Anti-TeacherEducation
Funding Advance Band-Aid Won’t Stop Philly Schools’ Bleeding
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Short Term Funding Solution Ignores Structural Problems Philadelphia Schools Need Fundamental Reform to End Education Crisis With 80 percent of students failing to make…
Press Release
Read More: Funding Advance Band-Aid Won’t Stop Philly Schools’ BleedingEducation
Protecting Children Should Trump Politics
A harrowing study shows that sexual misconduct by teachers is becoming more prevalent in the commonwealth. Since January, there have been 24 reported cases of sexual abuse by Pennsylvania teachers.
Media
Read More: Protecting Children Should Trump PoliticsEducation
Audio: Will a Cigarette Tax Really Save Philly Schools?
Yesterday, radio talk show host Dom Giordano talked to CF’s Nathan Benefield about the proposed cigarette tax to fund Philadelphia schools. Dom asked why we care so much about whether…
Media
Read More: Audio: Will a Cigarette Tax Really Save Philly Schools?Education
A Note on Philadelphia School Spending
Last week, we released a summary of spending, enrollment and staffing trends in the Philadelphia School District over the past decade. After this release,…
Media
Read More: A Note on Philadelphia School SpendingEducation
Cigarette Tax Won’t Save Philly Students
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Threatened Cuts Exaggerated, Quick-Fix Measures Not the Answer Trends Show More Funding Won’t Fix Philadelphia Schools August 1,…
Press Release
Read More: Cigarette Tax Won’t Save Philly Students