Education
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…
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NEW ANALYSIS: Public School Enrollment Declines as State Spending Climbs
CORRECTION: A previous version of this release incorrectly stated enrollment data. The correct figure is as follows: “Today, there are 80,708 fewer K–12 students in Pennsylvania’s district schools than in…
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“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…
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Minimum Wage 2026
Summary The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) numbers for 2025 show less than one percent of Pennsylvania workers (42,900) earn the minimum wage or…
Fact Sheet
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Public Schools Funding Hits Nearly $24,000 Per Student While Achievement Declines
Harrisburg, Pa., May 11, 2026 — New data reveals funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools spiked to nearly $24,000 per student in the 2024–25 school year. In addition to record-high spending, school districts continue to hoard reserve funds, with an average of $4,649 held for every public-school student. …
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Education Landscape in Pennsylvania
Overview There are approximately two million school-age children in the commonwealth. Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) 2025–26 enrollment reports show 73.5 percent attend their assigned district…
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Philly Schools Don’t Need More Money…
Originally published by The Philadelphia Citizen. A majority of the Philadelphia students receiving diplomas cannot read or do math at grade level. In 2025, …
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New Philly Schools Report Shows Increased Spending on Staff, Declining Enrollment, and Worse Academic Outcomes
In March, with no fanfare, the School District of Philadelphia posted its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The new report shows that, despite record-level spending, district…
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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:…
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