Education
School Spending Update, 2013-14
The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released new expenditure and revenue figures for the 2013-14 school year. This memo presents trends in school spending, revenue, pension contributions, district fund balances,…
Memo
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Education Spending & Academic Achievement
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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134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt Reform
Every Pennsylvanian’s share of state and local debt increased by 20 percent over the last twelve years. In 2002, per capita debt totaled $8,693. Today, the total is a shade…
Media
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Pennsylvania State Budget Trends, 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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Teachers’ Unions: The Common Roadblock to Reform
From Philadelphia to York to the Pittsburgh suburbs, parents and taxpayers are looking to improve public education without breaking the bank. But there’s a common roadblock standing in their way:…
Commentary
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School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding
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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Is Second Worst Good Enough for York Students?
The second lowest-performing school district in Pennsylvania is asking for more time to improve but refusing recommended reforms. Unfortunately, more time is not something students and families in York City…
Commentary
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York Schools Rank 499th of 500 in Achievement, Change is Overdue
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 York School District’s Student Achievement still at Rock Bottom Despite Funding Increases Spends $656 more per Student than…
Press Release
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Assessing the Cost of Tom Wolf’s Spending and Tax Proposals
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf has proposed several new spending initiatives and tax code changes, though specific details remain lacking. To give Pennsylvanians a better idea of the impact of these proposals,…
Memo
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