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

School Officials Raise Salaries Again

  • June 24, 2008

An article in the Pottstown Mercury today highlights the salaries of school officials in the Pottstown School District. The school board voted on raises for administrators twice in the…

Media

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Education

“Intellectual Diversity” means no Milton Friedman?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2008

Several University of Chicago professors are protesting the university’s plan to unveil a Milton Friedman Institute, because that would “reinforce among the public a perception that the university’s faculty…

Media

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Education

State pre-K program “getting results”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 17, 2008

The PA Department of Education issued a statement, patting themselves on the back, claiming that the “Pre-K Counts” program was working as intended. They cite an increase in…

Media

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Education

Abandoning The SAT – Fraud or Folly?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2008

Interesting discussion about universities ending use of the SAT at Wake Forest (presumably applicable to the ACT – which I took, and scored crazy high on) at Minding the…

Media

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Education

Popping the Tuition Bubble

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 13, 2008

Interesting article in The American about the idea of financing higher education by promising a set portion of future earnings for loans. The idea of “human capital contracts” was…

Media

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Education

Putting Children Last

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2008

The Wall Street Journal blasts efforts by Democrats—coerced by the teacher’s unions—to end the DC Opportunity Scholarship program, a program which saves kids from failing schools and…

Media

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Education

Real Savings: Cutting Cybers vs. School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 4, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette have stories on the renewed push to reduce cyber school funding. Rep. Karen Beyer and other proponents are touting that: The bill…

Media

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Education

Charter Schools Make the Grade

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 4, 2008

Bob Maranto has an editorial in the Philadelphia Daily News on the reporting on charter school scandals. He notes that charter schools are more accountable – in that they…

Media

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Education

Higher Graduation Rates For Milwaukee Choice Students

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 2, 2008

A New Study from School Choice Wisconsin finds that choice schools in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program have substantially higher graduation rates than the Milwaukee public schools. Furthermore, as…

Media

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Education

School boards fall prey to Edifice Complex

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 1, 2008

Several PA school boards put their Edifice Complex on display this past week. The Danville School Board voted to renovate three elementary schools, rather than save…

Media

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Education

Homeschooling saves taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 28, 2008

This analysis from the Heritage Foundation (it was released in April, but I missed it until the hullabaloo over Subway and homeschoolers) finds than homeschooling saves American taxpayers…

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Education

Home Skool Stoodents Spel to Gud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 26, 2008

I found this story (HT to Michelle Malkin) interesting, mainly because of the irony. Subway is holding an essay contest which excludes homeschoolers—who have…

Media

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Education

PA 12th in ranking of charter school laws

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 25, 2008

The Center for Education Reform issued a ranking of charter school laws by state. Pennsylvania earns a respectable 12th, earning a ‘B’, but has room for improvement.

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Education

NEA on the Presidential Candidates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 16, 2008

The National Education Association put out their candidate guide, giving both the candidates’ positions and the NEA’s positions on power grabs for union leaders education issues. Here is the…

Media

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Education

The myths of cyber schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2008

A May 11 article on cyber schools in the Daily Local repeats claims that cyber schools are a major drain on taxpayers (though with a strong rebuttal…

Media

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Education

Talking Cyber Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2008

I discuss Cyber Schools on this week’s Lincoln Radio Journal with Lowman Henry of the Lincoln Institute. Our recent policy brief on cyber schools is here. I…

Media

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Education

The Price is Wrong

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 7, 2008

Education Next story shows how little the general public knows about school spending. For instance, survey respondents were asked to estimate how much their school district spends, per pupil.

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Education

Happy Birthday EITC

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 6, 2008

Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit turns 7 this month; there is a birthday party at the Capitol beginning at noon today (I believe free cake is involved). For more…

Media

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Education

Bevy of School Choice Articles/Research

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2008

A number of articles came across my email and blog reader, and I decided to put them all into one post. The Philadelphia Bulletin has a write-up…

Media

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Education

Edifice Complex Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2008

Here is the video from yesterday’s lucheon on public school spending and cyber schools. (The Commonwealth Foundation report referenced can be found here.) Visit EdificeComplex.org for…

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Education

The Who, What, Why, How of PAs Cyber Schools

  • April 29, 2008

New report addresses myths and facts about online learning HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released A Primer on Pennsylvania’s Cyber Schools, a policy brief which answers the…

Press Release

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