Education
Funding School Buildings Instead of Students: How State Ready to Learn Block Grants Reward Failing Systems
Summary Under the Ready to Learn Block grant, nearly half of the $565 million increase in 2026 funding goes to 15 school districts. Thirteen of these districts run low-achieving schools.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Funding School Buildings Instead of Students: How State Ready to Learn Block Grants Reward Failing SystemsEducation
Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Myths and Facts
Summary Beginning in 2027, the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) will provide tax credit scholarships to K–12 students living in states that opt in to the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Myths and FactsEducation
Tax Credit Scholarship Myths and Facts
Summary Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarship programs, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC), provide more than 100,000 scholarships annually to low- and middle-income K–12…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Tax Credit Scholarship Myths and FactsState Budget
Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency Savings
While the deal blocks Gov. Shapiro’s worst budget priorities, spending remains a top concern. Harrisburg, Pa., July 12, 2026 — Moments ago, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a state budget deal, twelve days past the deadline. The deal totals $52.2 billion, more than a billion dollars less than Gov. Josh Shapiro’s record spending proposal,…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Lawmakers Pass 2026-27 State Budget, Blocking Shapiro’s Tax Hikes and Preserving Emergency SavingsEducation
The Choice That Changed My Life [PODCAST]
A single educational opportunity can change the course of a life. Andrew Lewis sits down with two Pennsylvanians whose lives were transformed by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)…
Blog
Read More: The Choice That Changed My Life [PODCAST]Education
4 Signs that Shapiro, House Democrats are Out of Touch with Pennsylvanians
A new poll commissioned by the Commonwealth Foundation surveyed 833 registered Pennsylvania voters from June 18–21, 2026. The results paint a vivid picture of state lawmakers—specifically,…
Blog
Read More: 4 Signs that Shapiro, House Democrats are Out of Touch with PennsylvaniansState Budget
Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational Opportunity
Harrisburg, Pa., June 25, 2026 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 44 to 6, advanced House Bill 1667, legislation that delivers meaningful tax relief to families and businesses while also expanding access to educational scholarships for thousands of students across the commonwealth. The Senate’s legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Republicans for Advancing Tax Relief and Expanding Educational OpportunityEducation
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…
Press Release
Read More: NEW ANALYSIS: Public School Enrollment Declines as State Spending ClimbsEducation
2026 State of Education Spending in Pennsylvania
Overview Demographic trends, most notably declining enrollments, have led to empty school buildings that are costly to operate, forcing considerations on…
Backgrounder
Read More: 2026 State of Education Spending in Pennsylvania