Education

Pennsylvania Education Spending

  • June 29, 2010

Pennsylvania's education spending increased from $4 billion in 1980 to over $25 billion in 2009-a 133% increase in per-pupil spending, after adjusting for inflation. School construction and debt spending has…

Fact Sheet

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Education

The True Beneficiaries of Education Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 21, 2010

Gov. Rendell's budget once again demands significant increases in public school spending.  Ostensibly, these increases are "for the children," but a close examination of education spending and policy proposals reveals…

Commentary

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Education

Are Pittsburgh Public Schools Among the Nation’s Best?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 15, 2010

A recent national ranking said the Pittsburgh Public Schools were 7th best among large cities in the nation. (HT Grassroots PA). This was quite surprising, as the Pittsburgh…

Media

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Education

Costing-Out the Price of Education

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 9, 2009

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield, Director of Policy Research, Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee December 8, 2009 Thank you, Sen. Piccola and…

Testimony

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Education

CF Facts Irk Governor Rendell

  • November 18, 2009

Normally I don’t respond to allegations of untrue research, but I feel compelled to do so because it is the Governor of Pennsylvania. I am not sure what the…

Media

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Education

Fact-Checking Gov. Rendell and Bill Cosby

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 19, 2009

This afternoon. Gov. Ed Rendell, school superintendents, and Bill Cosby held a press conference on improvement in Pennsylvania test scores, and calling for funding increases. Unfortunately, they got a number…

Media

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Education

Is the PSSA Too Easy?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 12, 2009

The Allegheny Institute takes issue with the latest round of Pennsylvania test results – specifically the 8th grade reading PSSA. They note that not only does the 8th grade…

Media

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Education

Low Standards De-Value Diplomas

  • August 5, 2009

The U.S. dollar isn’t the only piece of paper plagued by inflation.  While the Federal Reserve drives down the value of the greenback, low academic standards in Pennsylvania are decreasing…

Commentary

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Education

Is Our Kids Learning Better Now?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2009

Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Education released the PSSA results (the state standardized tests), and celebrated the results.  Of course, the Rendell administration wants to take credit for the…

Media

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