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
State Can’t Spend Its Way to Student Success
For years, the educational establishment has claimed that not enough is being spent on public schools – that if more money is pumped into the system, student achievement will improve. …
Commentary
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School Choice Battles Wage On
Mary Katherine Ham has an excellent article on the battle over the DC Scholarship Program.The Philadelphia Bulletin also has a recent article, noting an Obama spokesman has said…
Media
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Rendell Tells PSU to Cut Costs
Yesterday, the Governor met with the Pennsylvania Tuition Coalition, a student group lobbying the state to include state-related schools, like PSU, in the Governor’s tuition relief scheme. Rendell told…
Media
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Dormitory Construction Boom
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has an article on the enormous rise in spending on university buildings, which touches on the current debate in higher ed funding:…
Media
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Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009 Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We…
Testimony
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Funding for Cybers up For Debate
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story about an upcoming hearing on charter schools and cyber school funding. As I will be testifying at the hearing, I won’t repeat my…
Media
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Upcoming Opportunities for Students
The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of great opportunities for students to learn more about economics, public policy, and the importance of liberty. Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest- Win…
Media
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PHEAA: More Wasteful Spending Exposed
On Monday the CEO of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation was fired for excessive travel expenses. Michael Hershock (former head of the PHEAA) spent thousands…
Media
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Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less Government
The Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) is tired of amassing unfunded regulations from state legislators that grow school bureaucracies instead of improving education. In response, the PSBA has proposed legislation…
Media
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Stimulus money to go to PA Universities
It looks like someone has gotten around to reading the stimulus bill, and realized their is funding for higher education in there. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports state-related universities (Penn…
Media
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The Scotland School, the State Budget, and School Choice
The Morning Call has a story on Governor Rendell’s proposal to close down the Scotland School for Veterans Children, asking if it is a “pawn in the budget game”. …
Media
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School Choice Hypocrisy Coming in DC?
The federal “omnibus” bill, despite billions in earmarks an pork, also proposes to cut off funding for the DC Scholarship program, write Dan Lips and Robert Enlow in NRO…
Media
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Time for Universities to Focus on Education
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s recent suggestion to establish “no-frills” 4-year colleges. The proposal has sparked debate over what constitutes a “frill”. Francis…
Media
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Home Sweet Home
WGAL has a feature on homeschooling. Homeschooling has become a popular alternative for families in recent years: over 1.5 million students across the country are currently taught at home…
Media
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Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PA
A new study from Penn State reveals that local school districts’ assessments, allowed as an alternative to the 11th-grade PSSA exam to demonstrate proficiency for Pennsylvania students before graduating,…
Media
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Fact Check: PA Education Spending
A myth floating around Harrisburg is that the state government used to fund 50% of K-12 education, and has reduced support since then. This was most recently stated by…
Media
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Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State Analysis
The American Legislative Exchange Council has released their annual Report Card on American Education. The report is filled with education data – spending, inputs, academic performance – with a…
Media
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Piccola Offers Alternative Plan for PA Higher Ed
State Sen. Jeff Piccola has a new proposal to offer additional grants directly to Pennsylvania students for higher education, and tie this funding to both schools’ holding tuition costs down…
Media
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High Marks for Higher Ed Reforms
Sen. Piccola’s proposal would increase college affordability, accountability HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today praised the proposal to reform higher education funding introduced by Senate Education Committee…
Press Release
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School Choice Yearbook
The Alliance for School Choice has released their 2008-09 School Choice Yearbook (click here for the news release). The yearbook profiles school choice programs in every state, the…
Media
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School District Consolidation is a Red Herring
In the movie Men in Black, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) carries a small device that flashes, allowing him to make people forget meeting him (or seeing aliens). Gov. Rendell…
Commentary
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