JUNE 20, 2011 | Feature by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Mom Pleads for Help

Gazing down the crowded and bustling city streets of Philadelphia, Joy Herbert watched as her son Anthony joined her to talk about a disturbing past and present in hopes of finding a brighter future. When the family moved to West Philadelphia from the Bronx, N.Y., Anthony, a ninth grader, was an engaged, ‘A' student and far from being in any kind of trouble.  But after dealing with the constant reality of violence in his West Philadelphia High School, where he was mugged twice and had his property stolen, he was recently forced to drop out. He is not alone. 

JUNE 20, 2011 | Action Item by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Send a Lifeline to Kids in Failing Schools

School might be out, but time is truly running out for more thousands of our children trapped in failing schools.  We have just 10 days to enact legislation to save these kids from going back to dangerous and failing schools. It's time for the citizens of Pennsylvania stand up for those children who are being left out.

JUNE 16, 2011 | Commentary by ELIZABETH STELLE, NATHAN BENEFIELD

How Taxpayers are Funding Big Labor's Education Failures

More than $92 million in taxpayer dollars for public education is being funneled through school districts back to these special interest groups, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA). These groups that profit from the $26 billion Pennsylvania taxpayers dole out on public schools have formed a coalition against school vouchers, ramped up their lobbying efforts and run attack ads against school choice and other education reforms.  Our tax dollars are funding organizations working to protect their fiefdom of failure against the best interests of taxpayers and school children.

JUNE 1, 2011 | Commentary by JAY OSTRICH

Pa. Education – A State of Emergency

At the start of our nation, founding father John Adams was as concerned with the positive development of our offspring as he was with that of the republic.  Seeing the relationship as symbiotic, he considered it imperative that citizens challenge our children and, "excite them in a habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives."

APRIL 4, 2011 | Commentary by ELIZABETH STELLE

Scholars Aren't Made from Dollars

All indications say academic performance remains inadequate, with thousands of children trapped in failing schools while waiting lists for charter schools and Educational Improvement Tax Credit scholarships grow.  Proponents of the education status quo say they need still more time and more money.  But can Pennsylvania afford to allow another generation of children to fail in a broken system?

FEBRUARY 17, 2011 | Policy Brief by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

School Choice: Questions & Answers

The Pennsylvania School Board Association is circulating "Questions about vouchers your legislator should be asking." Others have legitimate questions and concerns.  This Policy Brief answers them all.

FEBRUARY 16, 2011 | Policy Brief by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

15 School Choice Myths

Expelled by 46 Facts

In an attempt to thwart efforts to give children better educational opportunities, the public school establishment is trying to divert the attention of policymakers through a series of oft-repeated myths and half-truths. What follows are the top 15 school choice myths, expelled by 46 facts.

FEBRUARY 16, 2011 | Testimony by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

Rescuing Children from Failing Schools

Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, Commonwealth Foundation

It's been fifteen years since Gov. Ridge first proposed school vouchers for low-income children trapped in under-performing schools.  The PSEA and PSBA opposed school choice then as they do now, arguing they just needed more money and more time.  Well, they got both. We can no longer stand by and allow organizations that are more concerned with keeping adults employed and maintaining a "system" to prevent children from having access to better educational opportunities.

FEBRUARY 9, 2011 | Commentary by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

School Daze Ends with Choice

If Pennsylvania's public schools are broken, why don't we just fix them?  Easier said than done, of course, but it's not from a lack of trying.  For decades, taxpayers, parents and politicians have surrendered to the pleas of the unions and school boards that they would deliver improved academic performance if given more time and money.

FEBRUARY 8, 2011 | Policy Points by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania School Choice Resources

Senate Bill 1, The Opportunity Scholarship Act sponsored by Sen. Jeff Piccola (R) and Sen. Tony Williams (D), would expand scholarships available to children in lower- and middle-income families through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program and provide low-income students in chronically underperforming public schools with a state-funded voucher.