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

It’s Not About Tuition, It’s About Mo’ Money

  • Charles Mitchell
  • February 10, 2012

Over at PA Independent, Stacy Brown has an important story on the ongoing fight over Gov. Corbett’s budget proposal.  There, Duquesne University professor Antony Davies, a member of CF’s…

Media

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Education

Budget Cuts Do Not Equal Tuition Hikes

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 7, 2012

Last year we highlighted waste in public higher education, such as Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s golf simulator with 52 different golf courses and Penn State’s decision to construct new…

Media

Read More: Budget Cuts Do Not Equal Tuition Hikes

Education

Happy Digital Learning Day

  • Priya Brannick
  • February 1, 2012

Today is national Digital Learning Day, during which groups across the country will commemorate how technology is changing education for the better. So what exactly IS digital learning? Digital…

Media

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Education

Not a Joke: Learn from Louisiana

  • Charles Mitchell
  • January 31, 2012

Here in Pennsylvania, we like to think we’re better than states like Louisiana.  Those folks used to have slaves, but our founder was a Quaker.  They’re poor, but we’re rich. …

Media

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Education

Year of School Choice…and Beyond

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2012

The Alliance for School Choice released its latest School Choice Yearbook highlighting the developments in school choice in 2011, as well as each of the programs in the United…

Media

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Education

Bill Cosby Explains How to Really Educate a Child

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 25, 2012

We're in the middle of National School Choice Week, which means the word “education” is hot on the lips of its advocates across our state and country. Schooling is…

Media

Read More: Bill Cosby Explains How to Really Educate a Child

Education

School Choice: The ABC’s

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2012

In time for National School Choice Week, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released its 2012 ABC’s of School Choice. The new guide gives an overview of what…

Media

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Education

Want to Help PA’s Kids?

  • January 19, 2012

With the 10-year anniversary of No Child Left Behind recently passing, the $20.7 million bailout for Chester-Upland School District, and students in Neshaminy sitting at home while…

Media

Read More: Want to Help PA’s Kids?

Education

Ponderous PSEA, Virulent Violence Verified

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 18, 2012

Last December, the Commonwealth Foundation urged lawmakers to offer kids in Pennsylvania’s worst violent, failing schools a lifeline, and give them school choice for Christmas. We delivered bouquets of 17…

Media

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Education

Bring Choice to Chester-Upland

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 16, 2012

Chester-Upland, a chronically failing and bankrupt school district of 3,700 students in Delaware County, last week filed a federal suit against the commonwealth to demand a $20.7 million bailout…

Media

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Education

The Education Monopoly Comandeers CNN

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 16, 2012

The Reading School District was featured on CNN this weekend, but not for anything positive. Reporters documented the poor air quality caused by crumbling school buildings across the nation.

Media

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Education

Crisis vs. Competition in Education

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 12, 2012

Here are two views on school choice, the idea that fostering a variety of schooling options for families—whether public, charter, cyber or private—is a good thing: School choice is a…

Media

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Education

A Decade Left Behind

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 11, 2012

My first career started a few decades ago in the classroom as a high school history teacher.  While much has changed since then – including the use of technology and…

Commentary

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Education

PSEA Exposed: Vex, Lies and Audio Tape

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 22, 2011

Nestled in the $4.2 million the Pennsylvania State Education Asssociation spent in 2010-11 on political activities are some very telling expenditures on polling firms.  For example, remember the much-touted…

Media

Read More: PSEA Exposed: Vex, Lies and Audio Tape

Education

The Growing Lobbying Might of the PSEA

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 19, 2011

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state’s largest government union with 192,000 members, spent an astonishing $2.6 million in 2009-10 on “political activities and lobbying.” If that seems like a…

Media

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Education

Charter School Reform

  • December 13, 2011

Pennsylvania charter school enrollment grew from 982 students in 1997 to 91,000 in 2010, as more parents exercised choice in their children's education. On average, charter schools receive and spend…

Fact Sheet

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Education

The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Education Failures

  • December 13, 2011

Lawmakers are considering providing school choice to low-income children trapped in violent and failing schools. While some lawmakers are concerned about the cost of school vouchers, the cost of educational…

Fact Sheet

Read More: The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Education Failures

Education

Patriot News (Mostly) Endorses School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 9, 2011

This week, the Patriot News editorial board wrote an endorsement of a school voucher proposal in Pennsylvania. Here is the key pro argument: The case for vouchers is…

Media

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Education

A Word on Hellholes

  • Charles Mitchell
  • December 8, 2011

As I got in the car yesterday to begin a very long drive home from Pike County, I learned of a letter Sen. Vincent Hughes had sent requesting that I…

Media

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Education

School Choice in Pa. is Cure for Disaster

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 8, 2011

An excellent commentary by Jeanne Allen in the Delaware County Times sums up the case for school choice and the empirical evidence: Pennsylvania’s neighbors have led by example…

Media

Read More: School Choice in Pa. is Cure for Disaster