Robert O'Donnell

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Robert O’Donnell

Education Senior Fellow

The Honorable Robert W. O’Donnell is an Education Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation.

Bob is a Philadelphia-based attorney and a former Democratic Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. As a member of the House for 19 years, Bob rose through the ranks of leadership, serving as caucus chairman, majority whip, majority leader, and Speaker of the House. While in public service, he developed a reputation as a thoughtful, dynamic, and intellectually honest member of the House. He has been a consistent advocate for equality of opportunity including supporting school choice throughout his tenure in the legislature.

Bob has served as a member of Public Employees Retirement Study Commission, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, the Board of Trustees of the University of Pittsburgh, the Mayor’s Tax Budget and Advisory Committee (Philadelphia), the Chesapeake Bay Commission, the General State Authority, the Mayor’s Economic Recovery Task Force (Philadelphia), the Millrite Council, and the Philadelphia Port Corporation Board of Directors.

He is a graduate of Temple University and its law school and attended The Hague Academy of International Law. Arcadia College and Philadelphia University awarded Bod honorary degrees, and he has received several public awards including citations from the Pennsylvania League of Cities Service and Common Cause.

Bob resides in Chestnut Hill with his wife, Dr. Donna Gentile O’Donnell.

Education

Cyber School Basics

Colleen Hroncich
July 31, 2020

What are cyber charter schools? Charter schools are public, tuition-free schools open to all students. They are held to state academic and financial reporting standards, but they have more flexibility…

Commentary

Liquor Poll – Sandwich

July 29, 2020

Thank you for your input! We'll continue to update you on Pennsylvania's push for liquor reform.

Media

Liquor Poll – Snack Mix

July 29, 2020

Thank you for your input! We'll continue to update you on Pennsylvania's push for liquor reform.

Media

Liquor Poll – Stupid Question

July 29, 2020

Thank you for your input! We'll continue to update you on Pennsylvania's push for liquor reform.

Media

Education

Pa. Homeschooling 101: Legal Requirements

Colleen Hroncich
July 27, 2020

Thinking about homeschooling in Pennsylvania but don’t know where to begin? Here’s what you need to know to get started from education policy expert and homeschool mom Colleen Hroncich. Understanding…

Commentary

Op-ed: Citizens Take on Pennsylvania’s Public-Sector Unions

Kevin Mooney
July 27, 2020

Pennsylvania public employees advance free speech two years after the Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME.

Commentary

Don’t Forget the “Forgotten Americans” in 2020

July 27, 2020

While the Trump administration’s tariffs may temporarily boost business for some suppliers, they bleed American manufacturing jobs and raise costs for consumers. Most alarmingly to many Trump voters, he has…

Commentary

Don’t Forget the “Forgotten Americans” in 2020

Jennifer Stefano
July 27, 2020

Commentary

This Preacher’s on Probation

July 27, 2020

Former prisoners like Jon Kelly who have turned their lives around deserve better than empty promises of case-by-case leniency. The constraints on “perpetual probation” in the recently advanced HB 1555…

Commentary

This Preacher’s on Probation

July 27, 2020

Commentary

Pennsylvania’s “Great” Economy

July 27, 2020

The variety of businesses in Pennsylvania manage to function despite the state’s business environment, not because of it.

Commentary

Pennsylvania’s “Great” Economy

Tirzah Duren
July 27, 2020

The variety of businesses in Pennsylvania manage to function despite the state’s business environment, not because of it.

Commentary

A Responsible State Budget? Only in Your Dreams

July 27, 2020

We can spend our money smarter through sound policy, and we can make hard budgeting decisions easier for lawmakers by placing real limits on spending.

Commentary

A Responsible State Budget? Only in Your Dreams

Nathan Benefield
July 27, 2020

We can spend our money smarter through sound policy, and we can make hard budgeting decisions easier for lawmakers by placing real limits on spending.

Commentary

Protect Taxpayers to Fix the “Brain Drain”

July 27, 2020

The Keystone State is 45th in both job growth and income growth since 2001. And we’re the fifth-worst state in which to start a business, according to Wallethub. Why would…

Commentary

Protect Taxpayers to Fix the “Brain Drain”

July 27, 2020

The Keystone State is 45th in both job growth and income growth since 2001. And we’re the fifth-worst state in which to start a business, according to Wallethub. Why would…

Commentary

2020: Vision to Victory

July 27, 2020

This year, we’ve set the bar even higher—we want to end waiting lists for tax credit scholarships, introduce auto- matic expansion of the programs, and facilitate legislation that would reform…

Commentary

2020: Vision to Victory

July 27, 2020

This year, we’ve set the bar even higher—we want to end waiting lists for tax credit scholarships, introduce auto- matic expansion of the programs, and facilitate legislation that would reform…

Commentary

Wolf Reluctantly Gives In On Transparency During Emergencies

Michael Torres
July 27, 2020

Yesterday, a transparency bill requiring state and local government to continue fulfilling Right-to-Know requests under the Pa. Open Records law during emergency declarations became law without the governor’s signature.

Media

Education

Public Charter Schools Discounted, Ignored During COVID-19

Stefanie Mason
July 24, 2020

We were told that school districts and Intermediate Units were the experts on cyber education. We were told they were so great that alternatives, like cyber charter schools, should be eliminated.

Media

How is Gov. Wolf Handling COVID – Toss-Up

July 21, 2020

Thanks for voting! We'll send out the results when the poll ends next week. Further thoughts to share? Let us know! We want to hear how you're doing. Wolf Poll…

Media