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

A Decade of Success: Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit

  • August 17, 2011

The EITC creates partnerships between parents, businesses, and scholarship organizations. These partnerships allow funding to follow students, giving children and their families choices of schools that best fit their needs.

Fact Sheet

Read More: A Decade of Success: Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit

Education

PSEA Behind Phony Grassroots Effort

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 17, 2011

In 2009-10, the PSEA spent more than $2.6 million on political activities and lobbying. By the next year, that figure had ballooned to $4.2 million, an increase of about 60%.

Media

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Education

This is Educational Accountability?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 16, 2011

At a recent Pennsylvania House Education Committee hearing, lawmakers questioned whether a proposed voucher program would provide “accountability”.  Indeed, they want to be sure that these schools have the…

Media

Read More: This is Educational Accountability?

Education

Yes, Vouchers DO Improve Student Learning

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 8, 2011

The Philadelphia Inquirer today reports on a “study”—from a group dedicated to protecting the educational status quo and led by a partisan staffer—that claims that school vouchers have…

Media

Read More: Yes, Vouchers DO Improve Student Learning

Education

Two New Studies Show Benefits of School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 19, 2011

As the debate on school choice continues in Pennsylvania, a couple recent studies highlight the benefits of school voucher programs in the U.S. and internationally. The first study looks at…

Media

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Education

Penn State’s Smallest Tuition Hike in Years

  • Charles Mitchell
  • July 18, 2011

The conventional wisdom ever since March 8, when Gov. Tom Corbett made his budget address, has been very simple:  The sky is falling!  How, exactly?  In the form of crippling…

Media

Read More: Penn State’s Smallest Tuition Hike in Years

Education

How Does Seniority Mandate Help Kids, Exactly?

  • Priya Brannick
  • July 7, 2011

Here’s a letter to the editor I sent to the Erie Times on furloughing teachers: National Education Association board member Sam Talarico unsurprisingly takes strong exception to the…

Media

Read More: How Does Seniority Mandate Help Kids, Exactly?

Education

President Obama Is Right

  • Charles Mitchell
  • July 6, 2011

Savor that headline, because you won’t see it on this blog too often.  But it’s true.  As our friend Lindsey Burke at the Heritage Foundation points out, today at…

Media

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Education

Corbett’s First Inning Scorecard

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 6, 2011

July signals the coming of two breaks in Pennsylvania—Major League Baseball's All-Star break and the end of the state budget season.   Having endured his first budget as the commonwealth's chief…

Commentary

Read More: Corbett’s First Inning Scorecard

Education

Will the “Year of School Choice” Come to PA?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • July 5, 2011

Today’s Wall Street Journal has an editorial that begins as follows: School may be out for the summer, but school choice is in, as states across the nation…

Media

Read More: Will the “Year of School Choice” Come to PA?

Education

Cut Waste at This Temple, and I Will Praise It in Three Days

  • Charles Mitchell
  • July 1, 2011

Temple University just announced that it is raising tuition by ten percent, blaming the new state budget.  Temple is an outstanding example of an institution that should have spent…

Media

Read More: Cut Waste at This Temple, and I Will Praise It in Three Days

Education

Are Tuition Hikes Forced by Cuts in State Subsidies?

  • Charles Mitchell, Nathan Benefield
  • June 30, 2011

Today, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) voted to raise tuition by 7.5 percent for 2011-12.  Many have tried to place the blame solely on the reduction…

Media

Read More: Are Tuition Hikes Forced by Cuts in State Subsidies?

Education

More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying from School Districts

  • Priya Brannick
  • June 28, 2011

Public schools complain of underfunding, yet they are spending your tax dollars to lobby for more funding and against school choice, as property taxes skyrocket. The latest salvo comes from…

Media

Read More: More Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying from School Districts

Education

University Subsidy Bills Nixed, What Now?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 28, 2011

Last night, Pennsylvania House Democrats voted to defeat legislation on state subsidies for Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University, as well as for…

Media

Read More: University Subsidy Bills Nixed, What Now?

Education

Don’t Fall for the False Choice on Tuition and Taxpayers

  • Charles Mitchell
  • June 27, 2011

I see that right now, our legislators are once again debating cuts to the generous subsidies our public universities receive from taxpayers.  Some are claiming that if the cuts pass,…

Media

Read More: Don’t Fall for the False Choice on Tuition and Taxpayers

Education

Do Seven Rapes Get Your Attention?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 27, 2011

Today, CF delivered Life Savers to state legislators to remind them they still have three days to be a life-saver for kids in failing and violent schools.  One…

Media

Read More: Do Seven Rapes Get Your Attention?

Education

Tightening the Belt on Higher Education

  • June 27, 2011

Tuition rates continue to skyrocket year after year, but the cost of providing a college education hasn’t increased much over the past 50 years. In a recent Cato study,…

Media

Read More: Tightening the Belt on Higher Education

Education

Saving Harrisburg?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 27, 2011

In their efforts to “save Harrisburg” through a state takeover should the city fail to adopt Act 47 recommendations, lawmakers have overlooked one extremly effective option: school choice. Despite state…

Media

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Education

The Razor’s Edge of School Choice

  • June 27, 2011

When Vicky Miller and her daughter Emalie moved to Harrisburg because of a job and financial necessity, they considered their educational options. Five elementary schools in Harrisburg City School District…

Commentary

Read More: The Razor’s Edge of School Choice

Education

Can Students Wait One More Year for School Choice?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 23, 2011

In 76 days, more than 106,000 kids will return to failing and violent schools, unless the legislature takes action this week. Parents like Joy and Lorenzo are…

Media

Read More: Can Students Wait One More Year for School Choice?

Education

Give Voters a Say on School Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2011

Five years ago, state lawmakers passed Act 1 to provide property tax relief and give voters a voice on school tax increases.  But since slot machine gambling was introduced in…

Commentary

Read More: Give Voters a Say on School Taxes