Education 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.

Education

Stagnating PSSA Scores Illustrate Desperate Need for Education Opportunity

  • November 28, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., November 28, 2023 — The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) 2023 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores demonstrate the critical need to reform the state’s education system, new …

Press Release

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Education

School Choice Report, Episode 22

  • David P. Hardy
  • November 27, 2023

In the latest School Choice Report, Commonwealth Foundation Distinguished Sr. Fellow David Hardy interviews Dr. James Woodworth, Research Fellow with the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). They delve into…

Podcast

Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 22

Education

2023 PSSA Scores Highlight the Need for Educational Opportunity

  • November 27, 2023

Summary The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores from spring 2023. Test results show that fourth- and eighth-grade students struggle to…

Fact Sheet

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Education

To address the achievement gap, students need choice

  • David P. Hardy
  • November 27, 2023

Originally published at The Philadelphia Tribune To be sure, closing the achievement gaps in education — specifically, the ones that separate the poor from the wealthy and the students…

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Education

The hard-fought but inevitable reward of school choice

  • Stephen Bloom
  • November 22, 2023

Originally published at The Sentinel Students like Myles Slade-Bowers remind us of how far Pennsylvania has come with education reform. Myles was supposed to attend Steelton-Highspire High…

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Education

Rigor. Standards. Responsibility.

  • David P. Hardy
  • November 20, 2023

Originally published in The Philadelphia Citizen This November marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of a lesser-known Black hero, arguably the most innovative educator of his…

Media Hit

Read More: Rigor. Standards. Responsibility.

Education

Pennsylvania Senate Stands with Students (Again); House Democrats Cut Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Low-Income Families (Again)

  • November 15, 2023

Harrisburg, Pa., November 15, 2023 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate sent House Bill (HB) 301—a key portion of the state’s school code—to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Press Release

Read More: Pennsylvania Senate Stands with Students (Again); House Democrats Cut Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Low-Income Families (Again)

Education

Pennsylvania exports a lot — especially bad political leadership

  • Erik Telford
  • November 15, 2023

Originally published at Broad + Liberty As the nation’s sixth-largest manufacturing state, Pennsylvania exports a lot of things — from food and pharma to energy and defense. Unfortunately, as…

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Education

School Choice Report, Episode 21

  • David P. Hardy
  • November 13, 2023

Derrell Bradford is the president of ⁠50CAN⁠: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now. He leads communications and policy, and trains and recruits local leaders across the country to serve…

Podcast

Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 21

Education

School Choice Report, Episode 20

  • David P. Hardy
  • October 30, 2023

Our guest in this episode is CEO and President of Pennsylvania Families for Education Choice Sharon Sedlar. She strongly believes that parents are uniquely qualified to make educational decisions for…

Podcast

Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 20

Education

Jennifer Stefano: Jewish donors and allies’ letters to Penn expose the moral rot in American higher education

  • October 23, 2023

University of Pennsylvania donors are withdrawing their financial support over the university’s failure to condemn as terrorism recent Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, notes Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and Commonwealth…

Press Release

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Education

Shapiro Must Reset His Legislative Strategy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2023

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The recent sexual harassment scandal rocking Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has made many headlines. And though Shapiro must take these accusations seriously, there could be a…

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Education

School Choice Report, Episode 19

  • David P. Hardy
  • October 16, 2023

From working to expand tax credit scholarships to educating everyone from elected officials to parents on the benefits of school choice, Stephen (Steve) Bloom is a leading voice on one…

Podcast

Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 19

Education

Poorer children need the same choices as richer children

  • David P. Hardy
  • October 11, 2023

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette One evening, a young man needed help with his Algebra 2 homework, so he called the helpline for my school’s credit-recovery program. The…

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