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…

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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

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Education

Who is to Blame for Schools’ Fiscal Woes?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 13, 2012

Many advocates of more tax dollars for education blame Gov. Corbett and “cuts” for budgetary woes in Philadelphia and Reading school districts. But these complaints belie the facts.   Over last…

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Education

Philadelphia School District Faces the Budgetary Music

  • Priya Brannick
  • May 1, 2012

It doesn’t take an advanced degree to figure out that something’s rotten in the school district of Philadelphia—or that school choice is the antidote. More than half of…

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Education

Ponderous PSEA, Virulent Violence Verified

  • Priya Brannick
  • January 18, 2012

Last December, the Commonwealth Foundation urged lawmakers to offer kids in Pennsylvania’s worst violent, failing schools a lifeline, and give them school choice for Christmas. We delivered bouquets of 17…

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Education

Charter School Reform

  • December 13, 2011

Pennsylvania charter school enrollment grew from 982 students in 1997 to 91,000 in 2010, as more parents exercised choice in their children's education. On average, charter schools receive and spend…

Fact Sheet

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Education

Ackerman: School Choice Necessary to Reform Failing Schools

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 24, 2011

In case you missed it, former Philadelphia superintendent Arlene Ackerman emphatically endorsed vouchers and an expanded charter school system as the best way to rescue kids in failing schools.  She writes:…

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Education

Millions Funneled to Lobbyists by Public Schools

  • April 12, 2011

Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation announced today preliminary results from extensive Open Records Requests that found more than $59 million dollars of taxpayer money is being funneled through…

Press Release

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