Education

Student Funding Reform

  • February 17, 2015

Pennsylvania ranks among the nation’s leaders in education spending per student. Although spending levels are high, the system for distributing state funding is outdated. Weighted student funding (WSF) is a…

Fact Sheet

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Education

School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding

  • James Paul, Nathan Benefield
  • December 4, 2014

Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony to this commission on the important topic of reforming how we distribute state funding for education. Our written testimony will focus on…

Testimony

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Education

Is Second Worst Good Enough for York Students?

  • James Paul
  • November 10, 2014

The second lowest-performing school district in Pennsylvania is asking for more time to improve but refusing recommended reforms. Unfortunately, more time is not something students and families in York City…

Commentary

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Education

Charter Schools Promote Segregation? Not So!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2014

My letter to the editor in the Lehigh Valley Express Times refutes a claim that charter schools are promoting racial segregation: A recent article cites claims by…

Media

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Regulation

Use School Reserves to Fund Pensions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 28, 2014

In 2013, Pennsylvania school districts increased their reserve funds by $445 million—to a total approaching $4 billion as of June 30, 2013—according to the latest data from…

Media

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Education

School Spending is the Issue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2014

My letter to the editor in yesterday’s York Daily Record addresses some inaccuracies about education spending in Pennsylvania. Your editorial on education funding (“Funding formula a good…

Media

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Education

School Spending Transparency Coming to Pa.?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2013

Pennsylvania earned a “C+” for providing citizens information on how public schools spend money, according to a recent report from the Cato Institute titled “Cracking the…

Media

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Education

Districts Save What Cybers Spend

  • June 13, 2013

How much of Pennsylvania’s education spending goes to public cyber schools? Just 1 percent, or $319 million. Keep this in mind when reading about new data on school district…

Media

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