Public Union Democracy

The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws

  • Andrew Holman, David Osborne
  • August 28, 2024

Key Findings The four largest government unions—American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Education Association (NEA), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—lost…

Executive Summary

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Education

2023 PSSA Scores Highlight the Need for Educational Opportunity

  • November 27, 2023

Summary The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores from spring 2023. Test results show that fourth- and eighth-grade students struggle to…

Fact Sheet

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Education

Lifeline (PASS) Scholarship Program

  • August 1, 2023

Overview Lifeline Scholarships, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) program, would offer an Education Opportunity Account (EOA) to any student residing in a school ranked in…

Fact Sheet

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Education

Lifeline Scholarship Program

  • June 26, 2023

Overview Lifeline Scholarships (Senate Bill 795 and House Bill 1432) offer an Education Opportunity Account (EOA) to students residing in a school ranked in the bottom 15 percent…

Fact Sheet

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Education

Educational choice is on the rise, and the data supports it

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2023

Originally published in the Patriot-News Across the nation, states are expanding educational options for families. Already this year, ten states have created or broadened school choice programs. Iowa, Arkansas,…

Media Hit

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Education

Education Opportunity Accounts in Practice

  • May 18, 2023

Key Points Education Opportunity Accounts (EOAs) are transformative, flexible-use accounts funded by state tax dollars.Program Administration: The Pennsylvania Treasury is the ideal administrator at the state level and may contract…

Backgrounder

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Education

No real education reform without school choice. Bigger budgets won’t do enough.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 5, 2023

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Flooding public schools with more money won’t deliver educational opportunity for every student. Equitable opportunity requires that every student has access to the educational…

Media Hit

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State Budget

Key Takeaways from Gov. Shapiro’s 2023 Budget Address

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 7, 2023

Profligacy Exacerbates Budget Deficit Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget calls for $45.9 billion in ongoing General Fund spending and $43 billion in net state revenues (after refunds). Thus, Pennsylvania has…

Report

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Energy

Assessing Gov. Tom Wolf’s Tenure

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 12, 2023

Key Points During Gov. Tom Wolf’s eight years in office, Pennsylvania ranked below the national average in income growth, job growth, and population growth.State government spending increased significantly under Wolf,…

Backgrounder

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