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

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

Read More: The Growing Lobbying Might of the PSEA

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

Read More: Patriot News (Mostly) Endorses School Choice

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

Education

Four of Five Philadelphia Students Not Proficient in Reading or Math

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 8, 2011

Yesterday, the National Center for Education Statistics (part of the U.S. Department of Education) released district perfomance data on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).  This is part…

Media

Read More: Four of Five Philadelphia Students Not Proficient in Reading or Math

Education

Are School Vouchers Constitutional in Pennsylvania?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 7, 2011

Several attacks on school choice claim that using state funds for vouchers that might go to private schools is unconstitutional. Here are some facts and legal analysis on that issue.

Media

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Education

Hughes’ Boos a Ruse

  • December 7, 2011

In the absence of facts and any plausible excuse for poor performance, it’s always a good time to attack the messenger.  As if on cue, this well-worn strategy was trotted…

Media

Read More: Hughes’ Boos a Ruse

Education

Lorenzo’s Boil: Why Father Not PSEA Knows Best

  • December 7, 2011

It’s just over 24 hours ago that children and parents trapped in failing and violent Pennsylvania schools delivered to Harrisburg lawmakers 4,300 messages of urgency and hope. Among the messengers was Lorenzo…

Media

Read More: Lorenzo’s Boil: Why Father Not PSEA Knows Best

Education

Educrats Fight for System Not Kids, Taxpayers

  • December 7, 2011

The Sharon Herald posted an article Sunday about anti-voucher signs popping up around the Sharon, Sharpsville and Greenville areas in Mercer County.  I’ve seen these signs in Western Pa.

Media

Read More: Educrats Fight for System Not Kids, Taxpayers

Education

PSEA Ignores Children’s Cries for Help, Facts

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 6, 2011

Following the Commonwealth Foundation’s press conference with legislators highlighting how one violent act occurs every 17 minutes in Pennsylvania’s worst-performing schools, the Pennsylvania State Education Association retorted: “In…

Media

Read More: PSEA Ignores Children’s Cries for Help, Facts

Education

Dear Reluctant Rural Republican…

  • Charles Mitchell
  • December 6, 2011

A friend just forwarded me some objections offered by a Republican member of the House of Representatives from a rural area who’s reluctant to support a comprehensive school choice bill…

Media

Read More: Dear Reluctant Rural Republican…

Education

Chart of the Day: Public School Enrollment vs Staff

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • December 5, 2011

One of the drivers of education spending is an increase in staff sizes while enrollment has declined. Data from the PA Department of Education indicates that from 1999-2000 to…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: Public School Enrollment vs Staff

Education

What Will You See in 17 Minutes?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • December 5, 2011

Seventeen minutes is a small sliver of time for most people.  In those few moments, most people could take a shower, prepare a meal, or watch half a sitcom.  But…

Commentary

Read More: What Will You See in 17 Minutes?

Education

Radical Reform Required…Now!

  • Charles Mitchell
  • December 2, 2011

My friend Nick Pandelidis, a physician and entrepreneur in York, has published an excellent piece on school choice in the York Daily Record.  After recounting much data, he concludes:…

Media

Read More: Radical Reform Required…Now!

Education

Improving Public Education…Through School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 28, 2011

Here is a letter to the editor I submitted to the Pocono Record, correcting the record on school choice: Your editorial, “Support your public schools” bashes school choice…

Media

Read More: Improving Public Education…Through School Choice

Education

The Right Questions for Penn State

  • Charles Mitchell
  • November 23, 2011

Stacy Brown of the Pennsylvania Independent—which, in the interests of full disclosure, CF launched but no longer controls in any way—is asking the right questions this morning in his…

Media

Read More: The Right Questions for Penn State