Education

Low-Achieving and Violent Public Schools in Pennsylvania

• October 30, 2025

Overview Students attending low-achieving public schools experience violence at nearly twice the rate of students attending higher-achieving schools and are more likely to experience violence involving a weapon.

Fact Sheet

Shapiro ❤️ Shutdowns

• Common Sense Weekly
• October 25, 2025

Here’s the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.We hope you have a great weekend! Josh Shapiro Loves Shutdowns When it comes to…

Blog

State Budget

Pennsylvania Senate Passes Budget Plan, RGGI Abrogation, Regulatory Reform

• October 22, 2025

Harrisburg, Pa., October 22, 2025 — This week, the Pennsylvania Senate advanced legislation, including a spending bill (Senate Bill 160), that protects taxpayers and fosters economic growth. The commonwealth remains the…

Press Release

100 Days, No Budget

• Common Sense Weekly
• October 11, 2025

Here’s the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.We hope you have a great weekend! Shapiro Failed to Protect PA from Budget Stalemates…

Blog

Myths and Facts: Public Cyber Charter Schools

• September 19, 2025

Summary Myths and misinformation obscure the facts about Pennsylvania’s public cyber charter school students. Proposed cuts to cyber students will force the closure of up to nine of Pennsylvania’s 14…

Fact Sheet

Education

Rethinking School District Reserve Funds as Students Return to Class

• Rachel Langan
• August 25, 2025

Pennsylvania must focus on funding students. Overview After years of property tax hikes and significant increases in state funding, Pennsylvania school districts ended the 2023–24 school year with more than…

Backgrounder

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage

• August 5, 2025

Summary Findings by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) show that less than one percent of Pennsylvania workers (47,200) earn the minimum wage or…

Fact Sheet

State Budget

PA House Democrats Pass Unbalanced, Reckless Spending Bill

• July 14, 2025

Harrisburg, Pa., July 14, 2025 — Today, Pennsylvania House Democrats passed the General Appropriations Act (HB 1330), their version of a budget bill, which includes a $2.9 billion spending increase.

Press Release

State Budget

New Poll: Voters Concerned About Increased Spending, Lack of Leadership

• June 25, 2025

69% of voters believe Gov. Josh Shapiro needs to take a more active role in budget negotiations. Harrisburg, Pa., June 25, 2025 — As the June 30th deadline looms, voters…

Press Release