Erik Telford
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
Erik Telford is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Erik is a senior public affairs and communications executive with more than 15 years of diverse experience across public policy, advocacy, and public affairs institutions. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Erik served as the senior vice president at Stand Together Communications, the Koch network’s marketing and communications capability. Erik has also served as the president of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a state-based watchdog journalism organization. And at Americans for Prosperity, he was the executive director of RightOnline (an initiative he founded) and the director of membership and online strategy. He is currently on the board of the American Commitment Foundation.
In 2013, Campaigns & Elections Magazine honored Erik as an “Advocacy Innovator” and in 2011 as a “Rising Star in American Politics.” Politics Online named him one of the “Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics.”
Education
School Choice Report, Episode 8
In this episode, host Dave Hardy interviews Guy Ciarrocchi. Guy recently joined Commonwealth Foundation as a Fellow. They talk about the hottest topic of the day in PA – Lifeline…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 8Education
Guy Ciarrocchi talks Gov. Shapiro’s Lifeline Scholarship Flip-Flop on the Chris Stigall Radio Show
Topics on this pageGuy Ciarrocchi…
Media Hit
Read More: Guy Ciarrocchi talks Gov. Shapiro’s Lifeline Scholarship Flip-Flop on the Chris Stigall Radio ShowEducation
A Good Education Isn’t a Perk. It’s a Lifeline.
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal What would you do to help your children succeed? Would you advocate for them, pushing to change the broken systems that keep them…
Media Hit
Read More: A Good Education Isn’t a Perk. It’s a Lifeline.Education
Josh Shapiro Chooses Teachers Unions Over Students
Originally published in the Wall Street Journal Nancy Pelosi infamously stated that to find out what ObamaCare contained, Congress had to pass the bill. This week, Pennsylvania’s Democratic Gov. Josh…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro Chooses Teachers Unions Over StudentsEducation
Governor Shapiro bungles budget, leaves state uncertain and kids trapped in failing schools
Harrisburg, Pa., July 6, 2023 – Gov. Josh Shapiro justified his promise to line-item veto the education reforms he championed by comparing Lifeline Scholarships for children in failing schools to…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro bungles budget, leaves state uncertain and kids trapped in failing schoolsEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Chairman & CEO Charles Mitchell on the Dom Giordano Show July 6, 2023
Commonwealth Foundation Chairman & CEO Charles Mitchell talks Lifeline Scholarships and the Pennsylvania budget on the Dom Giordano Show. Topics on this pageCharles E. MitchellDom Giordano…
Media Hit
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Chairman & CEO Charles Mitchell on the Dom Giordano Show July 6, 2023Education
Why are some Democrats holding kids hostage in failing schools? For more money
Originally published at The Patriot-News On Friday, the Pennsylvania Senate passed, as part of a comprehensive state budget, Lifeline Scholarships to save kids trapped in the lowest-performing schools—with bipartisan…
Media Hit
Read More: Why are some Democrats holding kids hostage in failing schools? For more moneyEducation
Redirect education funding
Originally published at the Scranton Times-Tribune One crucial question remains at the forefront of public policy discussions about education: How can we ensure every child receives the highest quality…
Media Hit
Read More: Redirect education funding
All Students Deserve the Opportunity to Shine. So Do Pennsylvania’s
Originally published in The Philadelphia Citizen Nelson Garcia is a shining star. He’s a straight-A 11th grader at Liguori Academy with strong ambitions for his future. Namely,…
Media Hit
Read More: All Students Deserve the Opportunity to Shine. So Do Pennsylvania’sEducation
Pa. Sen. Tony Williams Delivers Impassioned Speech Supporting Lifeline Scholarships
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 30, 2023 — Yesterday, Pennsylvania State Sen. Tony Williams—a Democrat representing Philadelphia—delivered a rousing speech supporting Lifeline Scholarships. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Williams addressed…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Sen. Tony Williams Delivers Impassioned Speech Supporting Lifeline ScholarshipsEducation
The dark money message lurking behind the assault on school choice
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Pennsylvania lawmakers who are being told to oppose school choice at the behest of a pressure group wedded to failing public schools would…
Media Hit
Read More: The dark money message lurking behind the assault on school choiceEducation
65 Organizations, Individuals Call for Enactment of Lifeline Scholarships
Harrisburg, Pa., June 29, 2023 — A diverse coalition of more than 60 individuals and organizations, including two former U.S education secretaries, rapper and activist Meek Mill, schools and scholarship…
Press Release
Read More: 65 Organizations, Individuals Call for Enactment of Lifeline ScholarshipsEducation
Pennsylvania: School Choice Proponents Poised to Extend Lifeline Scholarships to Students
Originally published at The American Spectator If finances are the top concern of public school officials beset with low state test scores, they should be on board with scholarship…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania: School Choice Proponents Poised to Extend Lifeline Scholarships to StudentsEducation
Test Scores Say Students Are Failing, but We Are Failing Them
Originally published at National Review It’s report-card time for students — and for the nation. Bottom line: Education scores are down, gone from low to even lower. The National Assessment…
Media Hit
Read More: Test Scores Say Students Are Failing, but We Are Failing Them
School Choice Report, Episode 7
Pastor Josh Robertson of The Rock Church in Harrisburg, PA joins our seventh episode of the School Choice Report podcast. He has an incredible story with valuable connections to the…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 7Education
Commonwealth Foundation Survey Provides Voter Insights as Legislature Wraps Up Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., June 27, 2023 — Pennsylvania voters remain pessimistic about Pennsylvania’s economy, and they expect state lawmakers to keep a tight rein on the state budget, according to a…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Survey Provides Voter Insights as Legislature Wraps Up BudgetEducation
Lifeline Scholarship Program
Overview Lifeline Scholarships (Senate Bill 795 and House Bill 1432) offer an Education Opportunity Account (EOA) to students residing in a school ranked in the bottom 15 percent…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Lifeline Scholarship ProgramEducation
By keeping his promises, Shapiro can help Pennsylvania lead the nation
Originally published in The Morning Call The recent national debt limit boondoggle that occupied Congress and President Biden is a valuable lesson for what not to do in government.
Media Hit
Read More: By keeping his promises, Shapiro can help Pennsylvania lead the nationEducation
Educational choice is on the rise, and the data supports it
Originally published in the Patriot-News Across the nation, states are expanding educational options for families. Already this year, ten states have created or broadened school choice programs. Iowa, Arkansas,…
Media Hit
Read More: Educational choice is on the rise, and the data supports itEducation
Gov. Shapiro Reaffirms Support for School Choice, Lifeline Scholarships
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 23, 2023 – Today, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro proclaimed his support for school choice in an interview on Fox News. Appearing on America’s Newsroom with Dana…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Shapiro Reaffirms Support for School Choice, Lifeline ScholarshipsEducation
Educational choice is an uphill battle that is worth the time
Originally published at LNP All Pennsylvania students and families should be able to choose the educational path that suits their needs. I learned the importance of educational choice through…
Media Hit
Read More: Educational choice is an uphill battle that is worth the time