Education

Shadow School Choice: When Public Schools Turn Students Away 

  • Rachel Langan
  • March 19, 2025

Summary The School District of Philadelphia outsources special education to private schools when the district is unable to meet the student’s special education needs. The U.S. Department of Education guarantees…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Shadow School Choice: When Public Schools Turn Students Away 

Education

Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023

  • May 20, 2024

Pennsylvania Public School Spending Is Growing Over the last decade, state spending on Pennsylvania public schools reached all-time highs year after year. Pennsylvania per-pupil public school funding increased to $21,985…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023

Public Union Democracy

Why have teacher salaries become stagnant?

  • David Osborne
  • May 7, 2024

Join host David Osborne and guest Christian Barnard (Assistant Director of Education Reform at Reason Foundation) as they delve into the intricate dynamics behind the stagnant teacher salaries despite soaring…

Podcast

Read More: Why have teacher salaries become stagnant?

Education

Assisting Students in Economically Disadvantaged Schools

  • June 7, 2023

Overview The Economically Disadvantaged School component of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) provides supplementary scholarships for Pennsylvania students receiving scholarships and attending private schools with the greatest financial need.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Assisting Students in Economically Disadvantaged Schools

State Budget

Opportunity Finds a Way

  • Marc LeBlond
  • March 11, 2021

The 2018-19 budget increased EITC by $25 million, providing an additional 8,000 student scholarships. Each child deserves an exceptional education—one that fits their unique gifts and talents. Parents should have…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Opportunity Finds a Way

Caring for Kids and Communities: The 2021 State Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 22, 2021

A successful recovery is not dependent on government aid; it requires education lifelines for families, regulatory and tax relief for small businesses, and health care reforms to bolster patient access…

Backgrounder

Read More: Caring for Kids and Communities: The 2021 State Budget

The Race to Rebuild: How Pennsylvania Can Bounce Back After COVID-19

  • Jessica Barnett
  • January 19, 2021

Pennsylvanians continue to struggle amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions. Small business owners face permanent closure, children’s schooling is in disarray, and job seekers have few prospects. Families need…

Report

Read More: The Race to Rebuild: How Pennsylvania Can Bounce Back After COVID-19

State Budget

How to Balance the State Budget without Raising Taxes in a Pandemic

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 6, 2020

Reducing spending to reflect how the pandemic impacted state agencies and balance the budget without tax hikes or borrowing is the first step. Without additional structural spending changes laid out in…

Backgrounder

Read More: How to Balance the State Budget without Raising Taxes in a Pandemic

How to Balance the Budget: Revenue Options

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 2, 2020

Pennsylvania’s partial-year budget to fund the government through November relied on federal emergency aid to patch a prospective deficit. The state cannot count on such extra resources in the future.

Backgrounder

Read More: How to Balance the Budget: Revenue Options