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

The Bubble Bursts at Penn State

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 24, 2011

The story is told that when someone asked John D. Rockefeller how much money is enough, he responded, "Just one dollar more."  Penn State's President, Graham Spanier, like most college…

Commentary

Read More: The Bubble Bursts at Penn State

Education

Education Spending and Results

  • March 23, 2011

As education spending and school choice, via Senate Bill 1, continues to be debated in Pennsylvania, state lawmakers should consider the recent testiomy of Andrew Coulson of the…

Media

Read More: Education Spending and Results

Education

Should Penn State Close Some Branch Campuses?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 23, 2011

Among the dire predictions made by Penn State President Graham Spanier in response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget cuts is that the university will have to close branch campuses.

Media

Read More: Should Penn State Close Some Branch Campuses?

Education

Parents Mustn’t Fall for Penn State Claims

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 21, 2011

In an op-ed in Sunday’s Harrisburg Patriot-News, Penn State President Graham Spanier repeated his now-familiar claims that his institution must receive more from taxpayers than the $165 million…

Media

Read More: Parents Mustn’t Fall for Penn State Claims

Education

Enacting Effective Merit Pay

  • March 21, 2011

Merit pay for teachers, proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett in his budget address, would tie teacher salaries to student progress, instead of increasing salaries annually regardless of performance. Only…

Media

Read More: Enacting Effective Merit Pay

Education

On Penn State and Lasagna

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 18, 2011

The news that Penn State’s trustees just froze new building projects brings lasagna to mind. The reason is that right after my wife and I returned from the hospital…

Media

Read More: On Penn State and Lasagna

Education

Hope for University Administrators, or Taxpayers?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 18, 2011

Tracie Mauriello of the Post-Gazette has a story today with the headline “Legislators offer hope to university administrators.”  There, she quotes several state senators who say they hope to…

Media

Read More: Hope for University Administrators, or Taxpayers?

Education

Another Way to Handle Budget Problems

  • March 17, 2011

Following up on Charles’s post last week about Penn State’s “political stunt” over Gov. Corbett’s planned cuts to the university, it might help PSU president Graham Spanier to look…

Media

Read More: Another Way to Handle Budget Problems

Education

Top Ten Reasons Pennsylvanians Deserve More from Their Universities

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 17, 2011

Yesterday in Harrisburg, the talk was all about Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposal to cut the generous subsidies Pennsylvania taxpayers provide to our universities.  Budget Secretary Charles Zogby said…

Media

Read More: Top Ten Reasons Pennsylvanians Deserve More from Their Universities

Education

PSU: Political Stunt University?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • March 10, 2011

University presidents are howling in response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget address, in which he proposed giving their institutions less of taxpayers’ hard-earned money.  The loudest protests are coming from…

Media

Read More: PSU: Political Stunt University?

Education

Chart of the Day: Public School Revenue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 8, 2011

The chart below highlights Pennsylvania public school revenue, by source, from 1988-89 to 2008-09 (the latest year with data from the state Department of Education). Over the last 20…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: Public School Revenue

Education

Progressives Agree: More Dollars Do Not Equal More Scholars

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 7, 2011

The Center for American Progress conducted a study on school district spending, performance, and efficiency and comes to the unremarkable conclusion that more resources are not directly correlated with higher test scores…

Media

Read More: Progressives Agree: More Dollars Do Not Equal More Scholars

Education

More Evidence that School Choice Saves Tax Dollars

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 4, 2011

Reason’s 2010 Annual Privatization Report in Education highlights the savings states have enjoyed thanks to school choice. Since school vouchers and education tax credits are typically much lower than…

Media

Read More: More Evidence that School Choice Saves Tax Dollars

Education

Three Reasons for School Choice

  • February 23, 2011

A few recent editorial pieces have highlighted the variety of reasons Pennsylvania needs more school choice for parents and students. A recent Philadelphia Inquirer article by Benjamin F. Chavis,…

Media

Read More: Three Reasons for School Choice

Education

School Choice: Questions & Answers

  • February 17, 2011

The Pennsylvania School Board Association is circulating "Questions about vouchers your legislator should be asking." Others have legitimate questions and concerns.  This Policy Brief answers them all.

Fact Sheet

Read More: School Choice: Questions & Answers

Education

School Vouchers vs Public School Reserves

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 17, 2011

One of the most popular criticisms of school choice is that it would drain funds from public school.  But consider this: Critics of…

Media

Read More: School Vouchers vs Public School Reserves

Education

Philly’s Anti-Defamation League Chapter Supports Vouchers

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 16, 2011

The Anti-Defamation League has a long history of opposing vouchers for public school students. As part of that tradition, they object on the principal of separation of church and state,…

Media

Read More: Philly’s Anti-Defamation League Chapter Supports Vouchers

Education

15 School Choice Myths

  • February 16, 2011

In an attempt to thwart efforts to give children better educational opportunities, the public school establishment is trying to divert the attention of policymakers through a series of oft-repeated myths…

Fact Sheet

Read More: 15 School Choice Myths

Education

Rescuing Children from Failing Schools

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 16, 2011

Chairman Piccola, and members of the Senate Education Committee, thank you for the invitation to testify today on Senate Bill 1. I’m Matt Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth…

Testimony

Read More: Rescuing Children from Failing Schools

Education

The Constitutionality of School Choice

  • February 15, 2011

Despite Pennsylvania taxpayers spending $26 billion annually on public schools and more per student than 39 other states ($13,000 per child); and despite a decreasing student enrollment of nearly…

Media

Read More: The Constitutionality of School Choice

Education

Yearbook of School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2011

The Alliance for School Choice has released its 2010-11 school choice yearbook. The report includes an overview of the growth of school choice programs around the country, a roundup…

Media

Read More: Yearbook of School Choice