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
Kids Claim Victory in Pa. Budget
Thanks to school choice heroes like Speaker Mike Turzai and Senator Mike Regan, Pennsylvania students will benefit from a $30 million increase in tax credit scholarships. The agreed upon…
Media
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Students Need Scholarships, Not Vetoes
While the governor has repeatedly voiced support for freeing students from zip code-assigned schools that aren’t meeting their needs, he vetoed a sorely needed expansion of Pennsylvania’s scholarship…
Commentary
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Common EITC and OSTC Misconceptions
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” This saying is even more true in the internet age. Case in point: recent falsehoods…
Media
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How Many Kids Should We Save?
Last week, local mom Thalia McClenton visited the Capitol to tell her tax credit scholarship story. Thalia’s sons attend Harrisburg Catholic Elementary School thanks to scholarship funding. Thalia explained:…
Media
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Five Things Lawmakers Should Know About the State Budget Deal
Less than a week before the start of the 2019-20 fiscal year, legislative leaders unveiled a proposed state budget—including both the spending and revenue outline, and several policy changes that…
Media
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Which Wolf Was It? Gov. Wolf’s Hypocrisy on Education Tax Credits
Tom Wolf the private citizen and business owner benefited from and lauded private school choice and the EITC program. But Governor Tom Wolf has used his political clout to deny…
Media
Read More: Which Wolf Was It? Gov. Wolf’s Hypocrisy on Education Tax CreditsEducation
Pennsylvania Kids Need School Choice Heroes
I must confess, my superhero education is lacking. Much to the chagrin of my children, I don’t know the difference between DC and Marvel or the characters in each universe.
Media
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New Report: Education Tax Credits Save School Districts Billions
Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarships are life-changing programs that help students succeed and taxpayers save. According to brand new analysis by Martin F. Lueken, Ph.D. of EdChoice, tax credit scholarships…
Media
Read More: New Report: Education Tax Credits Save School Districts BillionsEducation
Wolf’s Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Governor Wolf talks the talk. In his 2018 budget address, he called for ensuring “your zip code doesn’t determine what kind of education you can get.” In his …
Media
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Magic 8 Ball, What Lies Ahead for HB 800?
I asked my Magic 8 Ball if Gov. Wolf would sign HB 800—legislation increasing the caps on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. “My sources say no,” was the unfortunate…
Media
Read More: Magic 8 Ball, What Lies Ahead for HB 800?Education
Helping Kids Through EITC and OSTC
Governor Tom Wolf wants to be sure that children from poor parts of the state can get a good education. In his 2018 budget address he called…
Media
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Champions for Pa. Students
Yesterday the Senate took bold, swift action on behalf of Pennsylvania kids by passing HB 800—which would increase the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) K-12 tax credit scholarship cap by…
Media
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Fiscal Forgetfulness
Next year the governor wants to spend $1.4 billion more than he requested for this year, according to his recent budget proposal. Separately he’ll need as much as $750 million…
Media
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Momentous School Choice Expansion Lands on Gov. Wolf’s Desk
June 11, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB 800, which would expand a hugely popular K-12 scholarship program, giving Governor Wolf the chance to provide a lifeline to…
Press Release
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Is School Choice the Black Choice?
Do you know that 49 percent of the kids who applied for tax credit scholarships in Pennsylvania were denied? Lenny McAllister Parents, educators, and education reformers…
Media
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EITC & OSTC Escalator: Because Kids Need a Longer Lifeline
Pennsylvania's successful education tax credit programs are oversubscribed, resulting in tens of thousands of families being denied scholarships. It's time to expand these programs. Here are answers to common questions…
Fact Sheet
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Thousands of Scholarship Applications Denied, Again
Pennsylvania's tax credit scholarship programs, EITC (Education Improvement Tax Credit) and OSTC (Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit), have transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of students with a private education that…
Media
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Safer Public Schools: Another Benefit of Education Choice
When parents are forced to choose between safety and academics, parents overwhelmingly choose safety. That's a choice no parent should have to make, but that's the reality for Philadelphia families…
Media
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The Many Benefits of Tax Credit Scholarships
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) empower thousands of students with a high-quality education of their choice each year—and at a fraction of the…
Media
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Are Pennsylvania Leaders Out of Touch?
When asked whether Philadelphia needs “more, fewer, or the same number of charter schools,” Mayor Jim Kenney responded, “Fewer.” It’s a baffling answer, considering his city’s educational landscape. Just…
Media
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School Districts’ Cash Stash Tops $4.6 Billion
May 16, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts hold $4.6 billion in reserve funds, according the latest data available from the Pa. Department of Education. Reserves rose by $64 million in…
Press Release
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