Rachel Langan
Senior Education Policy Analyst
Rachel Langan is the Senior Education Policy Analyst at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Rachel, a lifelong Pennsylvanian, graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Elementary Education and obtained her Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Rachel spent a decade working as the school librarian at two of the top-rated school districts in Chester County and has most recently worked on public school policy through grassroots organizations, both at the state and the local level.
Raised in the Pittsburgh area, she now lives and works outside of Philadelphia. Rachel is mom to five kids plus two dogs and enjoys renovating her 100-year-old home with her husband. When she has free time, you can find her curled up on the couch with a good book.
Education
School Choice Saves Families Struggling with Affordability
Originally published by RealClear Pennsylvania. Jeri Penrod and his family—his wife and their four children, Chloe, Andrew, Clara, and Ananias—faced financial ruin. But a few timely…
Media Hit
Read More: School Choice Saves Families Struggling with AffordabilityEducation
Why Are Kids Falling Behind in PA?
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. By most measures, Pennsylvania has invested more in public education than ever. However, despite increased spending, academic achievement has flattened, leaving many…
Media Hit
Read More: Why Are Kids Falling Behind in PA?Education
“Progress” Masks Failures
Originally published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Celebrating Philadelphia schools’ post-pandemic progress misses the larger story. Yes, students have made gains—and hardworking…
Media Hit
Read More: “Progress” Masks FailuresEducation
School Choice Doesn’t Benefit the Rich—It Levels the Playing Field
Originally published by Lancaster/LNP Online. School choice benefits only the wealthy—or so the critics claim. These same naysayers employ this same myth to undermine the commonwealth’s…
Media Hit
Read More: School Choice Doesn’t Benefit the Rich—It Levels the Playing FieldEducation
Pennsylvania’s Education Tax Credit Scholarships: How EITC Serves Children and Families In the Commonwealth | 2nd Edition
Key Findings Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) are state tax credit programs that provide over 100,000 students from low- to middle-income families access…
Report
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Education Tax Credit Scholarships: How EITC Serves Children and Families In the Commonwealth | 2nd Edition
Southern States Shatter the Myth of “Underfunded” Public Schools
Originally published by Broad + Liberty. Pennsylvania has a lot to learn about public education. And states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana offer this important lesson:…
Media Hit
Read More: Southern States Shatter the Myth of “Underfunded” Public SchoolsEducation
If Public School Enrollment is Declining, Why is Spending Increasing?
Since 2000, Pennsylvania public school district enrollment has declined by nearly 300,000 students, a 15 percent decline. According to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s annual…
Blog
Read More: If Public School Enrollment is Declining, Why is Spending Increasing?Education
More Money for Public Schools Isn’t Working
On January 12, Rachel Langan, senior education policy analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation, testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy Committee. Rachel…
Blog
Read More: More Money for Public Schools Isn’t Working
The Myth of Increased Education Spending
Testimony of Rachel LanganSenior Education Policy AnalystThe Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy AlternativesHearing on Improving Reading Outcomes in PennsylvaniaBefore the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Policy CommitteeThe Honorable David Argall, ChairJanuary…
Testimony
Read More: The Myth of Increased Education SpendingEducation
Special Needs Students Need School Choice
Originally published by The Philadelphia Citizen. Shannon Mitchell will never forget the first words from her nonverbal eight-year-old daughter, Brianna. “Hi, mama,” Briana said after getting…
Media Hit
Read More: Special Needs Students Need School ChoiceEducation
Pennsylvania Courts Never Ordered More Funding for Public Schools
One of the best-kept secrets in Pennsylvania is the outcome of the 2023 Commonwealth Court ruling on public education funding. Myths and disinformation abound. But few are as pernicious as…
Blog
Read More: Pennsylvania Courts Never Ordered More Funding for Public SchoolsEducation
School Districts Hoarding Millions Claim the State is “Bleeding” Them
As the Pennsylvania budget stalemate approaches its fourth month, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the state’s failure to release education funding is “bleeding” school districts in lost interest income.
Blog
Read More: School Districts Hoarding Millions Claim the State is “Bleeding” ThemEducation
Rethinking School District Reserve Funds as Students Return to Class
Pennsylvania must focus on funding students. Overview After years of property tax hikes and significant increases in state funding, Pennsylvania school districts ended the 2023–24 school year with more than…
Backgrounder
Read More: Rethinking School District Reserve Funds as Students Return to ClassEducation
Pennsylvania Students Can’t Succeed if They Aren’t Safe
Originally published by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. According to federal and state law, the Keystone State owes parents of students attending dangerous schools the chance to transfer…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Students Can’t Succeed if They Aren’t SafeEducation
Persistently Dangerous Pennsylvania Public Schools
Calculating danger based only on arrests ignores student safety. Overview New analysis by the Commonwealth Foundation shows that Pennsylvania violates state and federal law by failing to identify persistently dangerous…
Backgrounder
Read More: Persistently Dangerous Pennsylvania Public SchoolsEducation
Six Reasons Why Hold Harmless is Anything But for Kids
Hold harmless is a policy that guarantees school districts the same amount of funding as they had in the prior year, regardless of fluctuations in enrollment. This means that public school…
Blog
Read More: Six Reasons Why Hold Harmless is Anything But for Kids
School Choice Returns to Harrisburg
Originally published by Pottstown-Mercury. School choice is, once again, the talk of the town in Harrisburg. Hundreds of students, parents, educators, lawmakers, and activists crowded the Capitol steps, rallying support for meaningful…
Media Hit
Read More: School Choice Returns to HarrisburgState Budget
EITC and Economically Disadvantaged Schools
Summary The Economically Disadvantaged School (EDS) component of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship program provides supplementary scholarships for Pennsylvania students, who are economically disadvantaged and attend private schools…
Fact Sheet
Read More: EITC and Economically Disadvantaged SchoolsEducation
Josh Shapiro Keeps Betraying Poor Pennsylvania Children
Originally published by The Wall Street Journal. Immanuel Christian School is in dire straits, but not for lack of students who want to go there. Demand is high for the…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro Keeps Betraying Poor Pennsylvania ChildrenEducation
Shadow School Choice: When Public Schools Turn Students Away
Summary The School District of Philadelphia outsources special education to private schools when the district is unable to meet the student’s special education needs. The U.S. Department of Education guarantees…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Shadow School Choice: When Public Schools Turn Students AwayEducation
Don’t Punish Cyber Charters for Being Fiscally Responsible
Originally published on RealClearPennsylvania. Pennsylvania cyber charter schools are under attack for—of all things—not wastefully spending taxpayer money. The Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General recently …
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t Punish Cyber Charters for Being Fiscally Responsible