Fixing Questionable Union Spending, Practices

• May 24, 2013

Following teacher Mike Quinn’s e-mail explaining his perspective on how the Pennsylvania State Education Association and National Education Association spend members’ dues poorly, Free to Teach…

Media

2012 Hudson Notice For Fair Share Fee Payers

• December 20, 2012

The PSEA has just sent out its latest “Hudson notice” to some 5,000 fee payers across Pennsylvania. The notice includes union financial information and explains how the fee is…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Stones to Take on Goliath

• Nathan Benefield
• November 13, 2012

My friend Jon Caldara of our sister think-tank in Colorado eloquently and humorously offers an important lesson from the election—the results stem not from a short-term campaign, but from…

Media

Education

Pa. Teachers Unions Among America’s Most Powerful

• Priya Brannick
• October 31, 2012

Pennsylvania’s teachers unions rank fourth among all U.S. states in their strength and influence, according to a report released this week from the Fordham Institute. We trail only Hawaii,…

Media

Government Accountability

The Squeeze: Government Unions’ Grip on Pennsylvanians

• Priya Brannick
• March 5, 2012

Pennsylvania's government unions wield tremendous political influence and advance policies that harm the commonwealth's taxpayers, children, and even their own members. Pennsylvania is a forced union state, meaning even workers…

Report

Government Accountability

Government Unions Steal Worker Freedom

• Priya Brannick
• October 27, 2011

Pennsylvania is one of 28 states in which workers can be compelled to give part of their paycheck to a union just to keep their job.  Moreover, even non-membership is…

Commentary

Education

How Does Seniority Mandate Help Kids, Exactly?

• Priya Brannick
• July 7, 2011

Here’s a letter to the editor I sent to the Erie Times on furloughing teachers: National Education Association board member Sam Talarico unsurprisingly takes strong exception to the…

Media

Education

Cyber School Rewarded for Its Effectiveness

• July 23, 2010

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has renewed the charter for the state’s first cyber charter school to offer all grades K-12. CEO Dr. Nick Trombetta acknowledged this accomplishment:…

Media

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