Education

Pennsylvania K-12 Education Spending

  • February 29, 2012

Pennsylvania's K-12 education revenue increased from $13 billion in 1995-96 to $26 billion in 2009-10. Adjusted for inflation, that represents a 44% increase in revenue per student.  …

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania K-12 Education Spending

Education

School Choice Gives Students Hope

  • Priya Brannick
  • February 10, 2012

Chester-Upland School District in the Philadelphia area is in deep financial trouble, and it made news recently for suing the state for emergency funding to keep going. In a…

Media

Read More: School Choice Gives Students Hope

Education

Bring Choice to Chester-Upland

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 16, 2012

Chester-Upland, a chronically failing and bankrupt school district of 3,700 students in Delaware County, last week filed a federal suit against the commonwealth to demand a $20.7 million bailout…

Media

Read More: Bring Choice to Chester-Upland

Education

Charter School Reform

  • December 13, 2011

Pennsylvania charter school enrollment grew from 982 students in 1997 to 91,000 in 2010, as more parents exercised choice in their children's education. On average, charter schools receive and spend…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Charter School Reform

Education

Chart of the Day: Public School Enrollment vs Staff

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • December 5, 2011

One of the drivers of education spending is an increase in staff sizes while enrollment has declined. Data from the PA Department of Education indicates that from 1999-2000 to…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: Public School Enrollment vs Staff

Education

Teacher Evaluation Bill Up for Committee Vote

  • Priya Brannick
  • November 15, 2011

Reforming Pennsylvania’s teacher evaluation system is an important leg of Gov. Tom Corbett’s education reform agenda, along with school vouchers, charter school reform, and expanding the successful Educational Improvement Tax…

Media

Read More: Teacher Evaluation Bill Up for Committee Vote

Education

A New Teacher Evaluation System for Pennsylvania

  • November 10, 2011

After numerous meetings and conversations with constituents, teachers, school administrators and education policy experts, I have come to the conclusion that we must have a comprehensive way to identify quality…

Commentary

Read More: A New Teacher Evaluation System for Pennsylvania

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania’s Government Unions

  • October 27, 2011

Pennsylvania is a forced union state, meaning that workers can be forced to join a union or pay a "fair share fee" just to keep their job.  Most government units…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Government Unions