Education
Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocates
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer After a more than eight-year slog, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court affirmed what the Pennsylvania Constitution has said all…
Read More: Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocatesEducation is the first stepping-stone on the path to success, but Pennsylvania students face severe inequality among public school districts. Thousands who can’t afford private school are trapped in failing schools or situations that aren’t the right fit. The solution to this crisis is school choice. By offering families options outside their zip code-assigned district schools, students are better able to find their path to success. Charter schools, tax credit scholarships, education savings accounts (ESAs), homeschooling, and other types of education choice must become a priority in Pennsylvania.
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Education
New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss Up
Harrisburg, Pa., July 26, 2024—Public support for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is evenly divided in Pennsylvania, according to a new statewide survey of Pennsylvania voters, with Harris leading Trump 47%…
Press Release
Read More: New Swing State Poll: PA Voters Evenly Divided, Presidential Election a Toss UpEducation
TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”
Harrisburg, Pa., July 25, 2024—The Commonwealth Foundation today released a new television ad that exposes Gov. Josh Shapiro’s leadership failures and his inability to obtain significant legislative successes.
Press Release
Read More: TV Ad Exposes Shapiro as “All Talk, No Results”Education
Who will Harris pick for vice president? Why Shapiro and Whitmer aren’t the answers.
Originally published at USA Today Joe Biden is out. Kamala Harris is almost certainly in. The question now is: Who will the likely Democratic presidential…
Media Hit
Read More: Who will Harris pick for vice president? Why Shapiro and Whitmer aren’t the answers.Education
Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?
HARRISBURG, PA., July 24, 2024 — At a press conference Tuesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Commonwealth Foundation has “spent years and millions and millions of dollars attacking me.” Shapiro’s…
Press Release
Read More: Why is Gov. Shapiro Afraid of His Own Campaign Promises?Education
President and CEO Charles Mitchell on Philadelphia’s Morning Answer with Chris Stigall
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Special Needs Students Thrive in Cyber Charters
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Kris Hansen and her son Lucien are square pegs in a world full of round holes. If not for a cyber charter school,…
Media Hit
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VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed Leadership
Harrisburg, Pa., July 22, 2024 — Some political pundits say Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would provide the Democratic presidential ticket a boost in a critical battleground state. That will only be…
Press Release
Read More: VP Josh Shapiro? Ad Spotlights Governor’s Failed LeadershipEducation
Fully funded public education must include cyber charters
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review When a parent says that a public school isn’t what it used to be, the implication is usually bad. But for Brenda Jesky,…
Media Hit
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Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice President
HARRISBURG, PA., July 18, 2024 — Amid growing speculation about President Joe Biden’s future as a candidate, political pundits, operatives, and donors are touting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a potential…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Do-Nothing Record Makes Him a Perfect Fit for Vice PresidentEducation
Broken promises
Originally published at the Philadelphia Inquirer The Inquirer left someone out in its coverage of the “winners and losers” of the new state budget: kids in Pennsylvania’s low-achieving…
Commentary
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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…
Media Hit
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New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic Ineffectiveness
Harrisburg, Pa., July 17, 2024 — Convention delegates, leaders of both political parties, and the national political media will see a new ad telling the truth about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s ineffectiveness.
Press Release
Read More: New Ad Highlights Shapiro’s Historic IneffectivenessEducation
New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable Families
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 16, 2024 — The Commonwealth Foundation will air a new television ad featuring a Pennsylvania mother calling out Gov. Josh Shapiro for once again breaking his promise to provide…
Media
Read More: New TV/Digital Ad Holds Gov. Shapiro Accountable for Turning His Back on Vulnerable FamiliesEducation
S2: E5 Featuring Joelle Fortin
In this episode of the School Choice Report podcast, host Dave Hardy sits down with Joelle Fortin, a dedicated mom of five and former public school teacher with over a…
Podcast
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2024–25 State Budget Analysis
Key Points Pennsylvania’s $47.6 billion 2024–25 budget creates a $3.6 billion structural deficit. This will exhaust General Fund reserves, which will require draining from the Rainy Day fund—illegally—or raising taxes…
Fact Sheet
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Shapiro Fails to Deliver on Campaign Promises Yet Again, Instead Delivers Massively Flawed Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., July 11, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a seriously flawed 2024–25 state budget deal. The deal fails to address the educational needs of students trapped in failing…
Press Release
Read More: Shapiro Fails to Deliver on Campaign Promises Yet Again, Instead Delivers Massively Flawed BudgetEducation
Education Needs More Choices—Not More Money
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Gov. Josh Shapiro and his administration chide the Pennsylvania legislature for hoarding cash with spending sights aimed at draining the commonwealth’s $7 billion Rainy…
Media Hit
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Child Learning Investment Tax Credit
Summary Last year, lawmakers approved the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit and a $66.7 million increase for child-care subsidies. Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking for ways to lower…
Fact Sheet
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Pa. Senate Republicans Advance Transformative Child Learning Investment Tax Credit, Standing Up for Taxpayers and Students
Harrisburg, Pa., July 3, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1280, the Child Learning Investment Tax Credit, by a vote of 7-4, along party lines.
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Read More: Pa. Senate Republicans Advance Transformative Child Learning Investment Tax Credit, Standing Up for Taxpayers and StudentsEducation
New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget Process
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — As Gov. Josh Shapiro failed to enact the 2024–25 Pennsylvania budget by the June 30th deadline, voters overwhelmingly support increased bipartisanship in the budget process,…
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Read More: New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget ProcessEducation
Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — In The Wall Street Journal, columnist William McGurn explores claims that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, currently floated by some pundits as a possible replacement for President Joe Biden…
Press Release
Read More: Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?