Education

Shady Accounting at the Pennsylvania Department of Education

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 1, 2008

Allegheny Institute’s latest policy brief reveals how the Pennsylvania Department of Education classifies federal monies as local tax revenue. “By making it appear that the local revenue…

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Education

Academic progress? Think again

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 25, 2008

A new study by the Center for Education Policy claims significant improvement in student achievement across the country. The Cato Institute discounts the study…

Media

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Education

State pre-K program “getting results”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 17, 2008

The PA Department of Education issued a statement, patting themselves on the back, claiming that the “Pre-K Counts” program was working as intended. They cite an increase in…

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Education

The Who, What, Why, How of PAs Cyber Schools

  • April 29, 2008

New report addresses myths and facts about online learning HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released A Primer on Pennsylvania’s Cyber Schools, a policy brief which answers the…

Press Release

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Cyber Charter Funding Debate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 17, 2007

Good article by William Mulgrew in The Evening Bulletin on the debate over public cyber school funding, with emphasis on the Haverford District: Last year, Haverford School District…

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PDE supports limiting school spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 1, 2007

Pennsylvania Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak proposes limiting school spending, reported in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Of course he only wants to limit in for cyber schools – to $5800…

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Online schools’ surpluses criticized

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 30, 2007

Today’s Patriot News features another article repeating the misinformed and overblown criticism of cyber schools – worrying about the 0.8% of school district spending that goes to educate students…

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School Enrollment vs. Staffing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2007

A reader requested more info about some data in our Fat Facts of the Week on public school staff vs. enrollment. Here is the latest data from the…

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Education

Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs

  • June 13, 2007

Governor Ed Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year includes $75 million for “Pre-K Counts”—a taxpayer-funded program which would provide grants to school districts, Head Start programs, and government-approved…

Fact Sheet

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