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 Primer on Pennsylvania Cyber Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2008

Executive Summary An increasing number of parents are choosing Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools for their children every year. Between 2001 and 2006, enrollment grew from 1,848 to almost 16,000 students.

Fact Sheet

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Education

Tails. You’re Fired!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2008

Most everyone know that public school teachers get paid, tranfered, hired and fired in accordance with union-developed rules of seniority. But what happens when that seniority is equal? Answer:…

Media

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Education

President Bush Praises EITC

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2008

From the REACH Foundation: President Bush spoke about the need to make a good education for every child a national priority. The President then highlighted Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit…

Media

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Education

The Economics of College

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2008

Thomas Sowell has a three part (so far) series on Townhall.com on the economics of college: Part 1 covers the perverse incentives of taxpayer subsidies for college,Part…

Media

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Education

School Choice Saves

  • April 24, 2008

What percentage of the $22 Billion taxpayers spent on public schools went to Pennsylvania cyber schools? A.

Press Release

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Education

The teachers’ union still hates school choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 22, 2008

The head of the PSEA, the largest teacher union in the state, takes me to task for in a letter to the editor for proposing “private school vouchers” as…

Media

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Education

Wisconsin votes to protect cyber schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2008

As we had noted previously that cyber schools in Wisconsin are also facing attack (primarily from the teachers unions), I thought I would pass along this story Pennsylvania…

Media

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Education

Which special interest is closest to state capitols?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2008

Education school Jay Greene launched a new blog on education policy with post on the proximity of teacher unions to state capitols. If you stand on…

Media

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Education

Answers to Attacks on Cyber Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 17, 2008

One of our loyal readers asked for some help responding to attacks on Cyber School Funding and a lobbying effort by Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) in support of HB…

Media

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Education

New Education Blog

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2008

The Fordham Foundation has launched a new blog on education called Flypaper. A couple good posts in their first two days are this one on highlighting “surprising” story…

Media

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Education

Cyber Schools: Frequently Asked Questions

  • April 15, 2008

Hearings are being held across the state on legislation for limits on spending by public cyber schools The proposed legislation is a response to criticism that cyber schools are not…

Fact Sheet

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Education

Edifice Complex at Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 11, 2008

In our report, Edifice Complex: Where has all the Money Gone we looked at the fastest growing cost for school districts, and what is driving property taxes…

Media

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Education

Mapping Graduation Rates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2008

Education Week has an interactive tool to map the graduation rates of states and school districts (based on the recent analysis by America’s Promise Alliance). Here is the…

Media

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Education

The Real Cost of Public Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 7, 2008

Andrew Coulson has an article in the Washington Post and a more detailed version on the Cato-at-liberty blog contrasting public school spending ($24,000 per pupil) and private school…

Media

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Education

Report: Philly graduation rate 33% lower than suburbs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 1, 2008

A new report on graduation rates in the largest US cities has troubling news for Philadelphia (and most urban districts). The Philadelphia City School District ranks 34th among the…

Media

Read More: Report: Philly graduation rate 33% lower than suburbs

Education

New Reports on Education and School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2008

Here are a few new reports that make for handy reference guides for legislators, advocates, researchers, or anyone interested in education reform. American Legislative Exchange Council: 2007…

Media

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Education

School Choice Tax Credit Saves Money in IL

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2008

An analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute of the Illinois Education Expense Tax Credit finds that an increase on the cap for that credit to $4,000 per child would…

Media

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Education

Merit selection and education lawsuits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2008

Our sister think tank, the Show Me Institute, has an interesting post on the intersection of merit selection of judges (i.e. the Missouri Plan) and education cases – namely…

Media

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Education

Lobbying by State Universities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 25, 2008

The blog, “Left of Centre,” has some details about lobbying by PA’s state universities, following up an article in the Daily Collegian. Of interest to those following lobbying…

Media

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Education

Wisconsin’s Virtual Schools Could Close this Summer

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 24, 2008

Intriguing piece in School Reform News on how the Wisconsin teachers’ union is also working to undermine cyber schools – rather than targeting funding, they are going after cyber…

Media

Read More: Wisconsin’s Virtual Schools Could Close this Summer