Education

Charter Reform: Get it Right

• James Paul
• August 30, 2016

Over the next nine months, many students will have their lives transformed for the better. But for thousands of other children, this time of year is defined by disappointment. They are…

Commentary

Unions Targeting Vulnerable Pennsylvanians

• Elizabeth Stelle
• May 16, 2016

Dave Smith’s life was turned upside down when Gov. Wolf issued an Executive Order letting the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) with the help of AFSCME (American Federation of…

Media

Education

State Supremes Strike Down Charter Caps

• James Paul
• February 17, 2016

Pennsylvania’s legislature granted extraordinary powers to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) when they created the body in 2001. Tasked with shoring up the district’s finances, the SRC was authorized to suspend…

Media

Government Accountability

Union Political Spending in the 2015 Pennsylvania Elections

• Nathan Benefield
• November 12, 2015

The problem isn't that unions give a lot, or even that they dominate political spending. The problem is that government union dues and campaign contributions are collected at taxpayer expense…

Memo

Government Accountability

Union Dues fund SuperPAC Attack Ads

• Nathan Benefield
• November 2, 2015

Pennsylvanians for Judicial Reform—a new “SuperPAC” (technically an “Independent Expenditure Committee”) registered in August—has spent about $2.5 million on attack ads in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race. Who…

Media

Education

Philadelphia Charter Schools Fight for Students

• Jessica Barnett
• May 23, 2014

In the search for a solution to its nearly $30 million year-end deficit—not to mention a projected $216 million budget gap next year—the School District of Philadelphia is once…

Media

Education

Are School Vouchers Constitutional in Pennsylvania?

• Nathan Benefield
• December 7, 2011

Several attacks on school choice claim that using state funds for vouchers that might go to private schools is unconstitutional. Here are some facts and legal analysis on that issue.

Media

Education

School Choice: Questions & Answers

• February 17, 2011

The Pennsylvania School Board Association is circulating "Questions about vouchers your legislator should be asking." Others have legitimate questions and concerns.  This Policy Brief answers them all.

Fact Sheet

Education

The Constitutionality of School Choice

• February 15, 2011

Despite Pennsylvania taxpayers spending $26 billion annually on public schools and more per student than 39 other states ($13,000 per child); and despite a decreasing student enrollment of nearly…

Media