Thomas Cusmano
Regional Director, Strategic Partnerships
Thomas (Tom) Cusmano is Regional Director, Strategic Partnerships at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Prior to joining the Commonwealth Foundation in early 2022, Tom spent twelve years at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) and its student journalism subsidiary, the Collegiate Network (CN). Both ISI and CN educate, train, and mentor America’s most promising principled student leaders, scholars, and future journalists.
Tom has spent three decades facilitating development support for national, regional, and statewide charitable organizations. He says, “The greatest blessing of my professional life has been to assist an inspiring group of dedicated, patriotic, and generous Americans with their philanthropy. I now have the opportunity to return that inspiration for my home state of Pennsylvania through the worthy endeavors of the Commonwealth Foundation.”
Tom has been a Pennsylvania resident since 1994 and proudly proclaims another great blessing, living in Amish Country, where he, his wife, and family “found home.”
Education
Education Funding in the Commonwealth
Pennsylvania Outspends the Nation on Public Schools Pennsylvania ranks among the highest-spending states on public education. According to National Center for Education Statistics data, as of fiscal year (FY) 2021,…
Backgrounder
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Another $6 BILLION Increase in Education Spending Is a Recipe for Failure
Harrisburg, Pa., January 10, 2024 — This week, the Basic Education Funding Commission—a bipartisan, 15-member group of lawmakers and administration officials—faces a deadline to release its funding report detailing the commission’s…
Press Release
Read More: Another $6 BILLION Increase in Education Spending Is a Recipe for FailureRegulation
Pennsylvania Needs Regulatory Reform
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Katie Walsh owns and operates two businesses: a tattoo parlor and a spa. If she could, Walsh would merge her two businesses. Pennsylvania’s onerous regulations,…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs Regulatory ReformPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania musician challenges union mandates in petition to Supreme Court
Originally published at the Washington Examiner Union operatives and their allies in government should not be permitted to rewrite state law to the point where they can coerce their…
Media Hit
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Lifeline and Education Choice Myths and Facts
Summary Lifeline Scholarships, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) program, would offer scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 per year for students in the commonwealth’s lowest-performing…
Fact Sheet
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Pennsylvania’s Most Common Education Choice Myths—Debunked
Harrisburg, Pa., January 4, 2024 — The Commonwealth Foundation today released a report addressing the most common myths about education spending, the success of educational choice programs, and the need for programs…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Most Common Education Choice Myths—DebunkedEnergy
Are ‘green’ agendas carrying governors to political cliffs?
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon are riding the same “green energy” horse, trotting into the sunset — or toward…
Media Hit
Read More: Are ‘green’ agendas carrying governors to political cliffs?State Budget
Shapiro’s New Year’s resolution
Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s the season to shed bad habits. And Gov. Josh Shapiro, as he enters year two in office, should consider dropping this overdone…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s New Year’s resolutionPublic Union Democracy
Public Sector Unions Aren’t Doing Well
Originally published at The American Spectator Union strikes are all the rage these days. From automobile workers to television writers, labor strikes have dominated the news cycle this year —…
Media Hit
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School choice won in Pennsylvania this year—and 2024 is even more promising
Originally published at The Patriot-News School choice advocates in Pennsylvania received good news and even better news with the last legislative session of the year. First, the…
Media Hit
Read More: School choice won in Pennsylvania this year—and 2024 is even more promisingPublic Union Democracy
When Unions Play Politics
Originally published at Townhall Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud recently observed, “Basketball players want to be football players, and football players want to be basketball players.”…
Media Hit
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Stefano: Why Penn’s sudden defense of free speech feels disingenuous
For years, conservatives have called on institutions of higher learning to recommit themselves to open inquiry and tolerance for politically unpopular speech. What’s changed? University of Pennsylvania faculty are calling…
Press Release
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Why Penn’s sudden defense of free speech feels disingenuous
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer The latest from the University of Pennsylvania’s campus is that faculty members are now demanding a “New Constitution” that…
Media Hit
Read More: Why Penn’s sudden defense of free speech feels disingenuousTaxes & Economy
Pa.’s Population Continues Its Troubling Decline
Harrisburg, Pa., December 20, 2023 — Pennsylvania’s population continues to decline, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report showing a total loss of 10,408 residents between July 2022 and July 2023.
Press Release
Read More: Pa.’s Population Continues Its Troubling DeclineTaxes & Economy
Commonwealth Foundation Pa. Survey Finds President Biden, Donald Trump in Dead Heat
Harrisburg, Pa., December 19, 2023 — When it comes to candidates who Pennsylvanians are unwilling to vote for, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are in a dead heat, according to a…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Pa. Survey Finds President Biden, Donald Trump in Dead HeatState Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Voters Struggling to Pinpoint Governor Shapiro’s Successes
Harrisburg, Pa., December 19, 2023 — When asked to list significant accomplishments by Gov. Josh Shapiro, 61 percent of Pennsylvania voters either stated he had not (36 percent) or were unsure…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Voters Struggling to Pinpoint Governor Shapiro’s SuccessesEducation
Tax Credit Scholarships: An Investment in Educational Opportunity
Summary Pennsylvania scholarship organizations awarded 77,670 K–12 scholarships through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) in the 2021–22 school year. The average 2021–22 scholarship…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Tax Credit Scholarships: An Investment in Educational OpportunityEnergy
How PA Can Prevent Deadly Blackouts
Originally published in the Delaware Valley Journal Having heard witnesses say America’s largest power grid remains unreliable nearly a year after a close call with blackouts last Christmas, Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
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School Choice Spotlight on Private Education – Syreeta Campbell
Syreeta lives in North Philadelphia and has chosen to send her son to private school because of the opportunities available to him there that are non-existent at his local…
School Choice Spotlight
Read More: School Choice Spotlight on Private Education – Syreeta CampbellEducation
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…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Season 1 FinaleEducation
Is Educational Freedom Poised to Transcend Union Power?
Originally published at The American Spectator Philadelphia students lose out on academic work necessary for their long-term success because they spend part of their school day navigating through unsafe…
Media Hit
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