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APRIL 3, 2012 | Commentary by ELIZABETH STELLE
Education Spending: The Rest of the Story
Since Gov. Corbett's budget proposal, those who profit from Pennsylvania's $26 billion a year public school system have been gnashing teeth over what they claim is an "underfunding" of the public schools. This misinformation campaign builds on the faulty premises that education spending in Pennsylvania has been cut to the bone and more money wil
APRIL 2, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Pennsylvania Higher Education Spending
Pennsylvania taxpayers subsidize higher education through appropriations to 14 state-owned universities (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, or PASSHE), four state-related universities (Penn State, Pittsburgh, Temple, and Lincoln), community colleges, and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), which awards grants
FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Pennsylvania K-12 Education Spending
Pennsylvania's K-12 education revenue increased from $13 billion in 1995-96 to $26 billion in 2009-10. Adjusted for inflation, that represents a 44% increase in revenue per student.
JANUARY 11, 2012 | Commentary by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE
A Decade Left Behind
My first career started a few decades ago in the classroom as a high school history teacher. While much has changed since then – including the use of technology and smaller class sizes – the one constant is the need for "reform" to improve our education system.
DECEMBER 22, 2011 | Commentary by NATHAN BENEFIELD
Why Gov. Corbett Didn't Get His Christmas Wish List
For Christmas this year, Gov. Tom Corbett hoped the legislature would gift wrap three things he could tie a bow on: An education reform package that included school vouchers, state liquor store privatization and legislation addressing gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
DECEMBER 13, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
Charter School Reform
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 only about 83 percent of what school districts spend for each student. Allowing alternative charter school authorizers would increase opportunities
DECEMBER 13, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION
The Cost of Pennsylvania's Education Failures
Lawmakers are considering providing school choice to low-income children trapped in violent and failing schools. While some lawmakers are concerned about the cost of school vouchers, the cost of educational failure for all taxpayers through welfare, corrections, and lost jobs is many times greater.
DECEMBER 5, 2011 | Commentary by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE
What Will You See in 17 Minutes?
Seventeen minutes is a small sliver of time for most people. In those few moments, most people could take a shower, prepare a meal, or watch half a sitcom. But for 82,000 kids in Pennsylvania, 17 minutes is no ordinary or laughing matter, it is pain that can last a lifetime.
DECEMBER 1, 2011 | Commentary by SEN. JEFFREY PICCOLA
Pennsylvania's School Choice Movement Must Address the 'Bottom 5%'
Pennsylvania has a simple choice to make. We can embrace change and welcome educational reform or we can choose to satisfy ourselves with the tired old policies of the past that, by any reasonable standard of measure, have failed our children.
NOVEMBER 10, 2011 | Commentary by REP. RYAN AUMENT
A New Teacher Evaluation System for Pennsylvania
After numerous meetings and conversations with constituents, teachers, school administrators and education policy experts, I have come to the conclusion that we must have a comprehensive way to identify quality teachers, so that we can retain them, encourage them and ensure students have access to them. We must also be able to assist those
