Education

Pennsylvania Education Spending Trends

  • James Paul
  • February 8, 2016

Pennsylvania school districts spent $26.1 billion in 2013-14, an all-time high, according to the latest data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This represents a $600 million increase from 2012-13.

Memo

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Education

Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans

  • February 2, 2016

Myth vs. Fact as Wolf Announces Education Plans Pa. Spends $3,400 More Per Student than the National Average February 2, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today at 2 p.m., Gov. Wolf…

Press Release

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Education

Do Record-High Graduation Rates Matter?

  • James Paul
  • January 18, 2016

In America’s high schools, test scores are stagnant while graduation rates are soaring. How can both be true? A December press release from the Department of Education…

Media

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Education

Education Spending & Academic Achievement

  • James Paul
  • May 19, 2015

Increased education spending has not led to improved academic performance. This is reflected in SAT scores and NAEP results, as well numerous studies at the state, national, and international level.

Fact Sheet

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Education

Education-Industrial Complex Strikes Again

  • James Paul
  • March 16, 2015

Much has been made of recent comments from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan regarding school funding in Pennsylvania. According to Duncan, Pennsylvania's families are “being shortchanged when…

Media

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Education

Student Funding Reform

  • February 17, 2015

Pennsylvania ranks among the nation’s leaders in education spending per student. Although spending levels are high, the system for distributing state funding is outdated. Weighted student funding (WSF) is a…

Fact Sheet

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State Budget

Pennsylvania State Budget Trends, 2015

  • February 6, 2015

The enacted $29 billion General Fund budget (a 1.88 percent increase over 2013-2014) and $71.4 billion total operating budget represent Pennsylvania’s highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…

Fact Sheet

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Education

School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding

  • James Paul, Nathan Benefield
  • December 4, 2014

Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony to this commission on the important topic of reforming how we distribute state funding for education. Our written testimony will focus on…

Testimony

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Education

Will Higher Taxes and Funding Save Students?

  • July 16, 2014

Philadelphia is in the midst of a crisis. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 80 percent of 4th and 8th grade students did not reach proficiency in math and…

Media

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