State Budget
Deficit Watch: March 2025
Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025–26 budget…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: March 2025Education
Don’t Punish Cyber Charters for Being Fiscally Responsible
Originally published on RealClearPennsylvania. Pennsylvania cyber charter schools are under attack for—of all things—not wastefully spending taxpayer money. The Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General recently …
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t Punish Cyber Charters for Being Fiscally ResponsiblePublic Union Democracy
Government Unions are Losing Money and Members—but Not Power and Influence
Originally published by Penn Live/Patriot-News. Pennsylvania’s second-largest union is on the brink of collapse. Last year, the Harrisburg-based subsidiary of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees…
Media Hit
Read More: Government Unions are Losing Money and Members—but Not Power and InfluenceEducation
These Pennsylvania Scholarships Help Kids Escape Failing Schools. But They Are Not Enough.
Pennsylvania once was a national leader in school choice programs. The commonwealth’s two tax-credit scholarships—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity…
Blog
Read More: These Pennsylvania Scholarships Help Kids Escape Failing Schools. But They Are Not Enough.Education
Senate Republicans School Shapiro Administration, Stand up for Students and Taxpayers
Harrisburg, Pa., February 27, 2025 — Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony from Pennsylvania Department of Education Acting Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed education spending…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Republicans School Shapiro Administration, Stand up for Students and Taxpayers
Commonwealth Foundation Announces Promotion of Elizabeth Stelle to Vice President of Policy
Elizabeth Stelle previously served as the Director of Policy Analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation. Harrisburg, Pa., February 26, 2025 — Commonwealth Foundation is pleased to announce the promotion of…
Media Hit
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Is Shapiro Different?
Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania. Josh Shapiro isn’t a “different Democrat” Gov. Josh…
Blog
Read More: Is Shapiro Different?Education
New Report: Demand for Tax Credit Scholarships Rises as Wait Lists Grow
Rising, unmet demand for EITC and OSTC programs necessitates expanded educational choice options like Lifeline Scholarships. Harrisburg, Pa., February 26, 2025 — Demand for school choice scholarships…
Press Release
Read More: New Report: Demand for Tax Credit Scholarships Rises as Wait Lists GrowEducation
Record Tax Credit Scholarship Waiting List Shows Growing Demand for Education Options
Summary Pennsylvania scholarship organizations awarded a record 85,570 K–12 scholarships through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) in the 2022-23 school year. The average…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Record Tax Credit Scholarship Waiting List Shows Growing Demand for Education Options