Education
It’s the year of school choice, as is every year to follow
Originally published at LNP Those involved in the educational freedom movement often proclaim, “This is our year.” Yet, we can’t agree on which year that is. Forbes and the…
Read More: It’s the year of school choice, as is every year to followPennsylvania’s future is in the hands of the next generation. Parents and students—not activist agendas—should drive the Commonwealth’s education policy. While policymakers have been entrusted with ensuring the next generation receives a quality education, parents should be empowered to choose the quality education that meets their unique child’s needs. Charter schools and tax credit scholarships are integral pieces of school choice, but more reforms are needed to make school choice a reality for all Pennsylvania students.
Education
Exposing the truth about education funding
Originally posted at LancasterOnline Does more money improve student performance in our public schools? This question is at the heart of many policy debates in Harrisburg and is central…
Media Hit
Read More: Exposing the truth about education fundingEducation
Opportunity Unleashed
Key Points In June 2019, Pennsylvania’s General Assembly expanded the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs by a combined $30 million. In the 2019-20…
Backgrounder
Read More: Opportunity UnleashedEducation
Education Opportunity Accounts in Practice
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
Read More: Education Opportunity Accounts in PracticeEducation
Catholic school parents, teachers challenge recruiting allegations in federal civil rights suit
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Parents and student wrestlers who engaged in school choice during the Covid-19 pandemic challenged recruiting allegations in federal court last week as part…
Media Hit
Read More: Catholic school parents, teachers challenge recruiting allegations in federal civil rights suitEducation
Op-Ed: Chicago’s Lessons for Philadelphia Schools
Originally published in The Philadelphia Citizen At 8 years old, my Saturday haunt was the North Philadelphia Woolworths five and dime on 25th and Lehigh. I would prowl the…
Media Hit
Read More: Op-Ed: Chicago’s Lessons for Philadelphia SchoolsEducation
Pa. Senate Committee Passes School Choice Bill
January 19, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee approved a bill to expand Pennsylvania’s successful and popular tax credit scholarship programs. SB 527, sponsored by Sen. Mike…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate Committee Passes School Choice BillEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Education Funding Lawsuit
January 19, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation has filed an amicus brief in an ongoing lawsuit over how Pennsylvania funds public schools. The brief argues, contrary to the plaintiffs’ depiction,…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Education Funding LawsuitEducation
Op-Ed: School Choice Is the Fix for Pennsylvania’s Broken Education System
Pennsylvania’s public education system is broken, according to a lawyer in the historic education-funding lawsuit currently underway in the state’s Commonwealth Court.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: School Choice Is the Fix for Pennsylvania’s Broken Education SystemEducation
Jennifer Stefano discussing Democrats’ expensive childcare plans on Fox Business
Commonwealth Foundation's Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses the Democrats' wrong-headed and pricey childcare policies on Fox Business.
Media
Read More: Jennifer Stefano discussing Democrats’ expensive childcare plans on Fox BusinessEducation
Op-Ed: Taxpayers Take School Board to Court for Trying to Silence Parents’ Criticism
The education bill is moving forward in Pennsylvania as a recent poll from Real Clear Opinion Research found that a strong majority of independents, Democrats, and Republicans say they support…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Taxpayers Take School Board to Court for Trying to Silence Parents’ CriticismEducation
Concentrating Resources on Failing Systems Instead of Students
The 2021-22 budget has the largest state education funding increase in Pennsylvania history despite public schools receiving over $6.2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds. The funding increase includes a…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Concentrating Resources on Failing Systems Instead of StudentsEducation
School Funding Myth Busters
In the face of uncertainly due to COVID in 2020, state lawmakers flat-funded education for the 2020–21 school year. Districts also received about $6 billion in additional funding via three…
Fact Sheet
Read More: School Funding Myth BustersEducation
Pennsylvania Public Schools? Pandemic Profits
Since the early months of the pandemic, Pennsylvania school district bureaucrats and lobbyists have demanded additional funding, ostensibly to cover increased costs. A February Commonwealth Foundation report tracked the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Public Schools? Pandemic ProfitsEducation
Excellence in Education for All Act Summary
What is the Excellence in Education for All Act? The Excellence in Education for All Act (Senate Bill 1) is an exciting bill that seeks to ensure more Pennsylvania…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Excellence in Education for All Act SummaryEducation
Understanding Education Opportunity Accounts (EOAs)
Education Opportunity Accounts (EOAs) are publicly funded accounts that provide families with direct access to educational resources.
Commentary
Read More: Understanding Education Opportunity Accounts (EOAs)Education
Are Pa. Public Schools Underfunded?
Pennsylvania spends more per student than the vast majority of states. Education spending has significantly increased over the past decade. Scroll down to see how much funding your district receives…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Are Pa. Public Schools Underfunded?Education
The Truth About Education Spending in Pennsylvania
Ben Franklin once said, “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” If he lived in Pennsylvania today, he might have an addition to his list: claims of…
Backgrounder
Read More: The Truth About Education Spending in PennsylvaniaEducation
Op-Ed: Pandemic Demonstrates the Value of Catholic Education
It’s tough to compete with “free” – even if your product is in high demand. That’s a lesson Catholic schools know well. In the past year, this point has been…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pandemic Demonstrates the Value of Catholic EducationEducation
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania’s Catholic Schools Face Uncertainty in the Pandemic Era
In a shutdown-induced economic downturn, however, many can’t afford private school tuition, and the donations that kept Catholic schools afloat are dropping off. About 150 Catholic schools nationwide have closed permanently…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania’s Catholic Schools Face Uncertainty in the Pandemic EraEducation
Scholarships would help Erie students during pandemic
It’s time to form the same public-private partnerships in education. Fortunately, an innovative proposal in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly would enable students to get the help they need.
Commentary
Read More: Scholarships would help Erie students during pandemicEducation
Global Education Report Confirms Pa. Parents’ Experiences
COVID-related disruptions in education could mean a $14 trillion hit to the U.S. economy in the long term. Helping kids get the individualized help they need—through Back on Track scholarship accounts—could…
Commentary
Read More: Global Education Report Confirms Pa. Parents’ Experiences