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

Shapiro’s New Year’s resolution

  • Erik Telford
  • December 29, 2023

Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s the season to shed bad habits. And Gov. Josh Shapiro, as he enters year two in office, should consider dropping this overdone…

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Education

Stefano: Why Penn’s sudden defense of free speech feels disingenuous

  • December 21, 2023

For years, conservatives have called on institutions of higher learning to recommit themselves to open inquiry and tolerance for politically unpopular speech. What’s changed? University of Pennsylvania faculty are calling…

Press Release

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Education

Why Penn’s sudden defense of free speech feels disingenuous

  • Jennifer Stefano
  • December 21, 2023

Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer The latest from the University of Pennsylvania’s campus is that faculty members are now demanding a “New Constitution” that…

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Education

Tax Credit Scholarships: An Investment in Educational Opportunity

  • December 19, 2023

Summary Pennsylvania scholarship organizations awarded 77,670 K–12 scholarships through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) in the 2021–22 school year. The average 2021–22 scholarship…

Fact Sheet

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Education

School Choice Spotlight on Private Education – Syreeta Campbell

  • Rachel Langan
  • December 18, 2023

Syreeta lives in North Philadelphia and has chosen to send her son to private school because of the opportunities available to him there that are non-existent at his local…

School Choice Spotlight

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Education

School Choice Report, Season 1 Finale

  • David P. Hardy
  • December 18, 2023

In our School Choice Report Season 1 finale, host David Hardy is joined by Ursinus College Associate Professor of Education John Spencer. Professor Spencer believes schooling ought to be thought…

Podcast

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Education

Is Educational Freedom Poised to Transcend Union Power?

  • Kevin Mooney
  • December 18, 2023

Originally published at The American Spectator Philadelphia students lose out on academic work necessary for their long-term success because they spend part of their school day navigating through unsafe…

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Education

A Tale of Two Chambers in Pennsylvania

  • Stephen Bloom
  • December 11, 2023

Originally published in The Mercury The Pennsylvania General Assembly is currently a Dickensian tale of two chambers. One chamber — the Senate — exemplifies the best of the times:…

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Education

Pa. Tracking Poll: Biden Faces Political Headwinds on Eve of Pa. Visit

  • December 7, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., December 7, 2023 – As President Biden prepares for his ninth visit to Pennsylvania in 2023—his most-visited state aside from Delaware, his home state—he is struggling to connect with…

Press Release

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Education

Stagnating PSSA Scores Illustrate Desperate Need for Education Opportunity

  • November 28, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., November 28, 2023 — The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) 2023 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores demonstrate the critical need to reform the state’s education system, new …

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Education

School Choice Report, Episode 22

  • David P. Hardy
  • November 27, 2023

In the latest School Choice Report, Commonwealth Foundation Distinguished Sr. Fellow David Hardy interviews Dr. James Woodworth, Research Fellow with the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). They delve into…

Podcast

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Education

2023 PSSA Scores Highlight the Need for Educational Opportunity

  • November 27, 2023

Summary The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores from spring 2023. Test results show that fourth- and eighth-grade students struggle to…

Fact Sheet

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Education

To address the achievement gap, students need choice

  • David P. Hardy
  • November 27, 2023

Originally published at The Philadelphia Tribune To be sure, closing the achievement gaps in education — specifically, the ones that separate the poor from the wealthy and the students…

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Education

The hard-fought but inevitable reward of school choice

  • Stephen Bloom
  • November 22, 2023

Originally published at The Sentinel Students like Myles Slade-Bowers remind us of how far Pennsylvania has come with education reform. Myles was supposed to attend Steelton-Highspire High…

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Education

Rigor. Standards. Responsibility.

  • David P. Hardy
  • November 20, 2023

Originally published in The Philadelphia Citizen This November marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of a lesser-known Black hero, arguably the most innovative educator of his…

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Education

Pennsylvania Senate Stands with Students (Again); House Democrats Cut Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Low-Income Families (Again)

  • November 15, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., November 15, 2023 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate sent House Bill (HB) 301—a key portion of the state’s school code—to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support.

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Education

Pennsylvania exports a lot — especially bad political leadership

  • Erik Telford
  • November 15, 2023

Originally published at Broad + Liberty As the nation’s sixth-largest manufacturing state, Pennsylvania exports a lot of things — from food and pharma to energy and defense. Unfortunately, as…

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