Education
The kids are not all right
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Our children’s test scores are down. They haven’t even reached pre-Covid levels, which wasn’t anything to brag about then. And the students are…
Read More: The kids are not all rightEducation 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.
Related Issues
Education
Josh Shapiro plays to the middle while pleasing the left
Originally published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Perhaps you’ve heard: Our governor is a moderate president-in-the-making. Josh Shapiro is leaning into this image as the state legislature negotiates next year’s budget,…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro plays to the middle while pleasing the leftEducation
Pa. Senate’s Passage of ‘Grow PA’ a Huge Victory for Higher Education Reform
Harrisburg, Pa., June 12, 2024 — The Pennsylvania Senate, on Tuesday, passed the landmark higher education reform plan “Grow PA,” demonstrating their steadfast commitment to supporting post-secondary opportunities and career pathways…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate’s Passage of ‘Grow PA’ a Huge Victory for Higher Education ReformEducation
Pa. schools don’t need more money, students need alternatives
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette School districts know how to add, but not Pennsylvania students. Statewide scores show declining student outcomes despite historic public education spending. Pennsylvania school…
Media Hit
Read More: Pa. schools don’t need more money, students need alternativesEducation
Democrats Want to Cut Funding for PA Special Needs Students
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Pennsylvania Democrats are trying to cut funding for special needs students in Pennsylvania public schools. Now, brace yourself—the more you learn, the worse…
Media Hit
Read More: Democrats Want to Cut Funding for PA Special Needs StudentsEducation
House Democrats Pick Special Interest Over Kids (Again), Ignoring Real Education Solutions
Harrisburg, Pa., June 4, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania House Education Committee passed House Bill (HB) 2370, a bill codifying recommendations from the Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) report adopted earlier this…
Press Release
Read More: House Democrats Pick Special Interest Over Kids (Again), Ignoring Real Education SolutionsEducation
Season 2, Episode 4 Featuring Professor Robert Strauss
In this episode Professor Robert Strauss joins host David Hardy to discuss teacher retention and its significant challenges in Pennsylvania, with Professor Strauss highlighting the history of teacher preparation programs…
Podcast
Read More: Season 2, Episode 4 Featuring Professor Robert StraussEducation
Hardy: Harrisburg Dems. Should Push Past Partisanship and Approve Lifeline Scholarships
Most Pennsylvanians support legislation to give scholarships to low-income students to escape Pennsylvania’s worst-performing public schools. Even Governor Shapiro supports the legislation. But Democrats in the state legislature stand in…
Press Release
Read More: Hardy: Harrisburg Dems. Should Push Past Partisanship and Approve Lifeline ScholarshipsEducation
Lawmakers can ease financial worries of Pennsylvanians
Originally published at LNP The struggle is real. When asked about their families’ financial situation, only 17% of Pennsylvanians see themselves as better off now than two years ago,…
Media Hit
Read More: Lawmakers can ease financial worries of PennsylvaniansEducation
Harrisburg Democrats should push past partisanship and approve Lifeline Scholarships
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer It takes guts to do what State Sen. Anthony H. Williams did. During a recent state Senate Education Committee meeting, Williams delivered a…
Media Hit
Read More: Harrisburg Democrats should push past partisanship and approve Lifeline ScholarshipsEducation
Pennsylvania’s Senate has answered Gov. Shapiro’s challenge
Originally published at The Patriot-News Following his budget address in February, Gov. Josh Shapiro challenged critics, saying, “If you don’t like my plan, show me yours.” Last week,…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Senate has answered Gov. Shapiro’s challengeEducation
Pa. School Funding Reached $22,000 per student in 2023
Harrisburg, Pa., May 21, 2024 — Pennsylvania per-student spending increased to $21,985 in the 2022–23 school year, according to recently released data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This represents a…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. School Funding Reached $22,000 per student in 2023Education
Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023
Pennsylvania Public School Spending Is Growing Over the last decade, state spending on Pennsylvania public schools reached all-time highs year after year. Pennsylvania per-pupil public school funding increased to $21,985…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023Education
Wall Street Journal Editorial: A School Choice Revival in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania students trapped in the state’s worst-performing schools have another opportunity for scholarships following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reversal of his previous stance and veto of bipartisan budget legislation last year.
Press Release
Read More: Wall Street Journal Editorial: A School Choice Revival in PennsylvaniaEducation
Parents and children versus politicians and teachers unions
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Who is more important: children or the teachers union? Like college students cramming for finals, Harrisburg politicians are supposed to pass a budget…
Media Hit
Read More: Parents and children versus politicians and teachers unionsEducation
Pa. Senate Committee Advances Lifeline Scholarships for Students in Failing Schools
Harrisburg, Pa., May 7, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bill (SB) 795, a bill to establish Lifeline Scholarships for children in failing schools. Sponsored by state…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate Committee Advances Lifeline Scholarships for Students in Failing SchoolsEducation
Commonwealth “Grow PA” Breakdown
Vice President of the Commonwealth Foundation Steve Bloom joins The Dawn Stensland Show to discuss the Grow PA plan for higher education.
Media Hit
Read More: Commonwealth “Grow PA” BreakdownEducation
Voters Aren’t Buying What Shapiro Is Selling
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania As inflation persists, Pennsylvania voters are rejecting increased government spending, according to new polling data released by the Commonwealth Foundation. Inflation and the rising cost of…
Media Hit
Read More: Voters Aren’t Buying What Shapiro Is SellingEducation
Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of Harrisburg
Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s a presidential election year, with voters riveted on national politics and issues. Inflation — caused by federal deficit spending — and immigration consistently…
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of HarrisburgEducation
Charles Mitchell | On Offense in Pennsylvania
Charles Mitchell is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Commonwealth Foundation. Charles grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs in a family of railroaders, teachers, and small…
Media Hit
Read More: Charles Mitchell | On Offense in PennsylvaniaEducation
Senate Higher Education Proposal is a Step in the Right Direction
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal A lot of bad plans on how to make higher education affordable exist. There is Gov. Josh Shapiro’s vague “blueprint,” which lacks…
Media Hit
Read More: Senate Higher Education Proposal is a Step in the Right DirectionEducation
Nate Benefield on The Dawn Stensland Show: Common Ground Poll Breakdown
The juxtaposition between the lack of support for Shapiro’s budget proposal (29%) and the massive support for his unfulfilled campaign promises—like Lifeline Scholarships (77%), lowering the business tax rate (81%),…
Media Hit
Read More: Nate Benefield on The Dawn Stensland Show: Common Ground Poll Breakdown