David P. Hardy
Distinguished Senior Fellow
David P. Hardy is a Distinguished Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation.
David is the Co-Founder and retired CEO of Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia charter school. Boys’ Latin, which opened in 2007 in West Philadelphia, is Pennsylvania’s first and only single-gender charter school. It has a student body that is 98 percent African-American and 74 percent economically disadvantaged. Blending classical studies with contemporary pedagogy, Boys’ Latin offers rigorous coursework and an extensive selection of extra-curricular activities including robotics, drama, entrepreneurship, mock trial, and ten varsity sports. In its first four graduating classes, Boys’ Latin sent 85 percent of its graduates to post-secondary education—80 percent of which attended four-year colleges. The school’s students matriculate into the finest colleges and universities in the nation including Pomona, Bowdoin, Carleton, Penn, UVA, and Penn State, as well as 13 of the 14 members of Pennsylvania’s state university system. Boys’ Latin added a middle school in 2013, increasing enrollment to 850 students to make it the largest 6—12 grade all-male school of any type in the region. Boys’ Latin has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and on NBC with Megyn Kelly.
After retiring from Boys’ Latin in 2017, David served as the Executive Director of Excellent Schools PA, a school choice advocacy organization. He also is the principal of a consulting practice, Parkway Educational Consultants.
David currently serves on the boards of the Center for Education Reform, the Pennsylvania State Coalition of Public Charter Schools, Independence Mission Schools, and Ad Prima Charter School, which he chairs. He is member of the Steering Committee for the Freedom Coalition for Charter schools and on the boards of the North Carolina Outward Bound School and the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center. David was a founding board member of the Philadelphia Schools Partnership and is a former board member of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO).
David lives in Center City Philadelphia with his wife of 35 years, Zina Oliver-Hardy. They have two adult sons.
Education
Pennsylvania Public Schools are Failing — and More Money Won’t Help
Originally published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Imagine bringing home a report card full of Ds and Fs. How would your parents react? Also, would this be a good time…
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S2: E11 Featuring President of National School Choice Week Andrew Campanella
What if you could revolutionize your child’s education with just one decision? As we wrap up Season 2, guest host Guy Ciarrocchi sits down with Andrew Campanella, President of National…
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S2: E10 Featuring Marc Magee CEO and Founder of 50CAN
In this episode of the School Choice Report, guest host Rachel Langan, Senior Policy Analyst at the Commonwealth Foundation, is joined by Marc Magee, CEO and Founder of 50CAN. Together,…
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Philadelphia teachers — like their students — want educational choice
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Philadelphia schools recently adopted a new multimillion-dollar curriculum — and district teachers sound mad as hell about it. The School District of Philadelphia…
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S2: E8 Featuring School Board Director Stacey Whomsley
In the latest episode of School Choice Report, host David Hardy sits down with Stacey Whomsley, a passionate school board director from the Westchester Area School District in Pennsylvania. Stacey…
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What educational reform can learn from urban renewal
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer During my daily travels, I drive by the Sharswood neighborhood, just north of Girard College, where I work. Over the years, I’ve watched…
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S2: E7 Featuring Education Entrepreneur Kerry McDonald
In Season 2’s seventh episode, School Choice Report host David Hardy is joined by Kerry McDonald, Senior Fellow at Foundation for Economic Education. Together they discuss the benefits and challenges…
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Broken promises
Originally published at the Philadelphia Inquirer The Inquirer left someone out in its coverage of the “winners and losers” of the new state budget: kids in Pennsylvania’s low-achieving…
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S2: E5 Featuring Joelle Fortin
In this episode of the School Choice Report podcast, host Dave Hardy sits down with Joelle Fortin, a dedicated mom of five and former public school teacher with over a…
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Season 2, Episode 4 Featuring Professor Robert Strauss
In this episode Professor Robert Strauss joins host David Hardy to discuss teacher retention and its significant challenges in Pennsylvania, with Professor Strauss highlighting the history of teacher preparation programs…
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Harrisburg Democrats should push past partisanship and approve Lifeline Scholarships
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer It takes guts to do what State Sen. Anthony H. Williams did. During a recent state Senate Education Committee meeting, Williams delivered a…
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Season 2, Episode 3 Featuring Don Asplen, CEO of Achievement House Cyber Charter School
In this episode of School Choice Report, guest host Guy Ciarrocchi interviews Don Asplen, CEO of Achievement House Cyber Charter School. They discuss what cyber charter schools are as well…
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Letter to the Editor – Educational Options
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer The fight over educational choice is frustratingly politicized. Both sides duke it out in the public square, while students remain trapped in crumbling…
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Season 2, Episode 2 Featuring Keisha Jordan, President and CEO at Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia
An advocate turned school choice advocate, Keisha Jordan is a woman on a mission. In this episode of School Choice Report, host David Hardy and Ms. Jordan discuss charter school…
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Season 2 Premier featuring Professor Robert Strauss
Get ready to dive into the electrifying SEASON 2 premiere of School Choice Report! Join your host, the dynamic David Hardy, as he engages in a riveting conversation with none…
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Special Episode: School Choice with Andrew Campanella, Chairman and CEO of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation
In this special School Choice Report episode, host David Hardy and guest Andrew Campanella (Chairman and CEO of the National School Choice Awareness Foundation) explore different school choice options for…
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School Choice Report, Season 1 Finale
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…
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School Choice Report, Episode 22
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…
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To address the achievement gap, students need choice
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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Rigor. Standards. Responsibility.
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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School Choice Report, Episode 21
Derrell Bradford is the president of 50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now. He leads communications and policy, and trains and recruits local leaders across the country to serve…
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