Education
Shapiro Failed on School Choice—Again. There’s Hope Despite Him
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The state budget is finally done, but Pennsylvania families should be angry. That’s the most important takeaway from the budget that Gov. Josh Shapiro and…
Read More: Shapiro Failed on School Choice—Again. There’s Hope Despite HimPennsylvania’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
For-Profit Philadelphia Schools Show Gains
A new study by Paul Peterson and Matthew Chingos finds that the Philadelphia public schools contracted out to for-profit operators showed significant gains in student achievement. Specifically, the…
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The Great College Hoax
Forbes has an excellent article on the merits of college – and taxpayer subsidies of higher ed – even as Governor Rendell proposes legalized video poker to put…
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Special Needs Scholarship Could Replace School for the Deaf
There has been a lot of public outcry against Governor Rendell’s proposal to close the Scranton School for the Deaf, as well as the Scotland School…
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The School District Consolidation Myth
As part of his budget, Governor Rendell proposed creating a commission on consolidating PA school districts (and it turns out, he may intend to do so even if the legislature…
Media
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Economists Against Governor Rendell
In his budget address, Governor Rendell cited “conservative” economists who support the stimulus package and his spending proposals, even though they don’t. Here is Rendell: Economists from…
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Obama Transparency Standard Challenges School Boards
Pennsylvania school boards have been presented an opportunity to measure up to the standard set by our new President. In his inaugural address, Barack Obama promised that public business would…
Commentary
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PA Budget Proposals: Cut the Fat, Play Poker
Sen. John Eichelberger unveiled a proposal today to issue a moratorium on “earmarks”, the legislative-controlled WAMs and other items. The proposal also calls for a review of all…
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Overspending Schools Don’t Need More Taxpayer Funding
NYTimes article (registration required) looks at how much of the federal “stimulus” money would go to school spending, particularly for school construction. Critics and supporters alike…
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More Subsidies for Higher Education
Governor Rendell is proposing an increase of $128 million in tuition aide for students at PASSHE schools. There’s no question that skyrocketing tuition is hitting families hard, but throwing…
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Adam Smith Courses
Our friends at the Wynnewood Institute are hosting a seminar series on the writings of Adam Smith, who is sometimes referred to as the “father of economics.” The series…
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Some More “half” Truths on the PSEA
The Tribune-Democrat features an editorial by a PSEA member in which he calls Matt Brouillette’s commentary “a hodgepodge of distortions, half-truths and unadulterated flapdoodle”. I have no idea…
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Remembering Paul Henkels
Paul Henckels, chaiman of the REACH Foundation and a leader in the school choice movement in Pennsylvania, passed away late last week. Please find the news release from…
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Plan to Reform Public Education
The Washington Policy Center recently released its Education Reform Plan for the Washington school system. It highlights the failure of the current program: Nearly one-third of Washington public…
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School district consolidation unlikely to cut cost
Over at School Board Transparency blog, Fred Baldwin writes that consolidating school districts (to county wide districts) is unlikely to result in substantial cost savings – that is…
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Lesson from Pittsburgh: Low standards Hurt Students
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article covers how the Pittsburgh Public Schools administration is trying to defend its policy of a 50% minimum grade (HT GrassrootsPA), But…
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The PSEA: A Worm in the Apple
Every taxpayer in the Commonwealth should be aware of the influence and agenda of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA). Despite its name, the organization’s top priority is not educating…
Commentary
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Film: A Stone’s Throw
Our sister think tank, the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, recently released “A Stone’s Throw.” The film documents the frustrations of parents in Mississippi–a state notorious for its low…
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Human Capital Contracts: The Future of Higher Ed Funding?
National Center for Policy Analysis summarize the idea of “human capital contracts” to finance student’s higher education costs. Essentially these contracts constitute agreeing to pay a set percentage of…
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Scholarships for Student Conference on Liberty
Students For Liberty (a non-profit organization dedicated to liberty) will host their 2009 International Students For Liberty Conference from February 20-22nd at George Washington University, Washington, D.C. The…
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Why Pennsylvania leads the nation in teacher walkouts
The Wall Street Journal features an article on teacher strikes in Pennsylvania, noting that the Keystone State leads the nation in school employees strikes. The piece cites a…
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School Choice Benefits Students and Taxpayers
Bob Maranto is featured in the Inquirer today writing on why Philadelphia needs charter schools: The academic data provided by No Child Left Behind…
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