Education

House Votes to Protect Excellent Teachers

  • James Paul
  • June 24, 2015

Seniority-based teacher furloughs may soon become a relic of the past for Pennsylvania public schools. On Tuesday evening, the state House approved Rep. Stephen Bloom’s HB 805—the Protecting…

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Taxes & Economy

30,000 Future Jobs at Risk

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 23, 2015

Middle class job opportunities are at risk. We all know that strong middle class employment is at the heart of a healthy economy, but Gov. Wolf’s massive tax increases would…

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Teacher Defies Union Control of Charitable Donation

  • Brittney Parker
  • June 23, 2015

It’s a different day, but it’s the same story about the PSEA’s treatment of educators that religiously object to union membership. Last year, FTT told you about Chris Meier…

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State Budget

Who Pays For a Severance Tax?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2015

Proponents of a new natural gas tax—which would be in addition to the existing impact fee (tax) and other taxes extractors already pay—ignore the consequences new taxes will have…

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State Budget

How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2015

How out of whack is Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $4.6 billion tax increase? Pretty far out there compared with the rest of the nation, according to a new report…

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Education

Government Union Puts Politics Ahead of Teachers

  • June 18, 2015

One government union is putting its political preferences and self-interest above the interests of public school teachers. Now, teachers are fighting back. Jane Ladley, who recently retired from teaching after…

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Education

Education Commission Proposes Smarter, Student-Based Spending

  • June 18, 2015

Education Commission Proposes Smarter,Student-Based Spending Commission Tailors Funding to Student Need, Rejects Broken Status-Quo Good afternoon, The Commonwealth Foundation has long advocated for an education funding formula…

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Education

School Districts Overwhelmed by Pension Costs

  • James Paul
  • June 18, 2015

Pennsylvania’s public sector pension crisis is undeniable.  Consider the burden it places on local school districts, whose pension contributions increased from $1.4 billion in 2012-13 to $1.9…

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