Education

Time for Paycheck Protection in Pa

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 17, 2014

The government liquor monopoly, the pension time bomb, and Philadelphia’s public school crisis—what do they have in common? Each of these public policy disasters was supported by government unions. What’s…

Commentary

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Education

Charter School Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 14, 2014

Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the vice president of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation. I wish to thank Auditor General DePasquale for the opportunity to…

Testimony

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Education

The Berlin Wall of Philadelphia’s Public Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 27, 2014

Students in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh had their hopes dashed last week when they lost out on the chance to land one of the few vacant openings in charter schools. In…

Media

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Education

Philly Schools Spending Crisis Set to Grow

  • January 7, 2014

$3.1 billion is a lot to spend for violent and failing schools. A Pennsylvania Independent report by Maura Pennington examines the School District of Philadelphia’s new budget and highlights…

Media

Read More: Philly Schools Spending Crisis Set to Grow

Education

VIDEO: Charter Schools Threatened by Punitive Rules

  • January 2, 2014

With a waiting list 30,000 students long, you’d think Philadelphia would be working to expand the reach of charter schools. Sadly, Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission is seeking just the opposite, …

Media

Read More: VIDEO: Charter Schools Threatened by Punitive Rules

Education

Philadelphia’s Education Crisis Worsens

  • December 19, 2013

More than 80 percent of 4th and 8th grade students in the School District of Philadelphia didn’t reach proficiency in math and reading, according to the Nation’s Report Card. When…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia’s Education Crisis Worsens

Education

Unions First, Teachers & Students Last

  • August 29, 2013

The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) might take legal action against the School District of Philadelphia for … wait for it … hiring back teachers. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission…

Media

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Education

How Much Do Philadelphia Schools Spend?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 9, 2012

Following Matt’s appearance on WHYY yesterday morning, we’ve received questions over our calculation on Philadelphia school district spending per student. The error was ours.  Based on the latest spending…

Media

Read More: How Much Do Philadelphia Schools Spend?

Education

Opportunity Scholarships for Pennsylvania

  • June 21, 2012

A new proposal (HB 2468) would expand the existing EITC program while adding an additional category of scholarship organizations.  Under HB 2468, the EITC limit would increase from $75 million…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Opportunity Scholarships for Pennsylvania