Education
Shapiro’s Spending Spree vs. Fiscal Reality
Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Have you seen our recent social media videos?…
Blog
Read More: Shapiro’s Spending Spree vs. Fiscal RealityEducation
What Happens in Philly Schools’ “Rubber Rooms”?
Originally published by the Philadelphia Citizen. What happens in Philadelphia schools stays in Philadelphia schools—or so it seems based on the District’s lack of transparency. As The…
Media Hit
Read More: What Happens in Philly Schools’ “Rubber Rooms”?Education
Educational Choice Myth and Facts 2025
Summary Unfortunately, conversations about education choice are fraught with myths about accountability, funding, and who qualifies for choice programs. This fact sheet addresses the most common myths. Academic Accountability MYTH:School…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Educational Choice Myth and Facts 2025Education
Shadow School Choice: When Public Schools Turn Students Away
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 AwayEducation
Pennsylvania Public Schools are Failing — and More Money Won’t Help
Originally published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Imagine bringing home a report card full of Ds and Fs. How would your parents react? Also, would this be a good time…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Public Schools are Failing — and More Money Won’t HelpEducation
Pennsylvania’s Students Fall Behind in Math and Reading, Despite $4.1 Billion School Funding Boost
Harrisburg, Pa., January 29, 2025 – The Nation’s Report Card, released this morning by the U.S. Department of Education, showed that 69% of Pennsylvania 8th grade students aren’t…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Students Fall Behind in Math and Reading, Despite $4.1 Billion School Funding BoostEducation
2025 State of Education Spending in Pennsylvania
Overview The national trends impacting education in Pennsylvania in 2025 include an impending fiscal cliff, under-enrolled schools, and population decline, all of which lead to school closures…
Backgrounder
Read More: 2025 State of Education Spending in PennsylvaniaEducation
Philadelphia teachers — like their students — want educational choice
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Philadelphia schools recently adopted a new multimillion-dollar curriculum — and district teachers sound mad as hell about it. The School District of Philadelphia…
Media Hit
Read More: Philadelphia teachers — like their students — want educational choiceEducation
The High Cost of Pa. K–12 Education Failures
Key Points The cost and risk of failure in our K–12 system is high. Low academic achievement is a predictor of lower lifetime incomes and higher costs for taxpayers. On…
Backgrounder
Read More: The High Cost of Pa. K–12 Education Failures