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
Enlow Hammers Home the Benefits of School Choice
Yesterday in the PA Senate, Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice, spoke on the issue of school vouchers and their applicability in the state…
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Auditor General Hits the Wrong Target
Here is a note I sent to Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner regarding his call for a moratorium on new charter schools until the funding mechanism is “fixed”:…
Media
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Charter Schools Give Children a Choice and a Chance
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation provided important perspective today on Pennsylvania’s charter and cyber schools in response to Auditor General Jack Wagner’s recommendations, including a moratorium on expanding public…
Press Release
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Are More Educational Options in PA’s Future?
Both gubernatorial candidates have voiced support for government-funded grants to allow parents to choose an alternative school for their children. Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, is…
Media
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Report: PA School Spending Not Linked to Performance
A new study from the 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) finds little relationship between education spending and performance. Specifically, the…
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Commonwealth Foundation Launches Online Portal Tracking Education Spending and Achievement in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA – How much does education cost the average Pennsylvania taxpayer? What percentage of students passes basic achievement tests? How much is per pupil spending in a given district?…
Press Release
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2010 SAT Scores by State
EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state The College Board has released the results of the 2010 SAT. We prepared a chart of SAT performance…
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School Choice Saves Education in New Orleans
Just over five years ago, New Orleans was devastated by Katrina, but the city’s education system was in shambles long before the storm. Today, New Orleans has witnessed a…
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New Report Card on American Education
ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, today released their latest Report Card on American Education. The annual report looks at both student performance and inputs into the education system, evaluating…
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Gov. Rendell’s Gamesmanship
While table games have been in Pennsylvania casinos for more than a month, I don't know if Gov. Rendell has tried his luck. But it would be a safe wager…
Commentary
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Teachers and their Unions, Part II
This is another look raising legitimate questions as to how, or even if, teacher unions can reasonably be said to recommend their members which, of course, they maintain they do. …
Commentary
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Teachers and Their Unions
Teacher unions like to say they represent their members and look out for their best interests, including protecting their rights to speak out without reprisal. Teachers are by the nature…
Commentary
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Who Got PSEA Money?
The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) remains one of the most powerful special interest groups in Harrisburg, whether it be fighting school choice and merit pay for teachers,…
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Administrative Costs Keep Tuition High
The Goldwater Institute puts higher education on the spot in a new study entitled: Administrative Bloat at American Universities, authored by Jay Greene. The study finds university administration costs…
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Seven PA Universities Have High Racial Graduation Gaps
Several universities in Pennsylvania have a large gap between white and black graduation rates, according to a recent report from Education Trust. Shippensburg University, with a 30.3% difference…
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Onorato Endorses School Choice Proposal
On Tuesday, we released a commentary noting that both candidates for governor in Pennsylvania – Tom Corbett (R) and Dan Onorato (D) – were advocates…
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A School Choice Governor?
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett recently made headlines by announcing his support for full-fledged school choice in Pennsylvania. Democrat Dan Onorato has also expressed support for school choice, particularly the…
Commentary
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Are Taxpayers Subsidizing Learning or Partying?
The good news: Penn State is no longer the #1 party school in the US, according to the Princeton Review’s (user account) annual student-produced rankings. It has fallen…
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AP Distorts Pennsylvania Education Spending
In an article about potential cuts to state appropriations to school districts – which represent cuts to the approved budget, not to last year’s spending, and would be more…
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Rendell’s Made-Up Government Workers Layoffs
Here is a letter to the editor I recently submitted on Gov. Rendell’s threats of layoffs if Congress doesn’t give him FMAP Money: Gov. Rendell has been busy lobbying…
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Philly Superintendent’s $65K Bonus Criteria Released
Welcome to part two on Philadelphia school Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s bonus. (If you missed “Unethical Philly Superintendent Leeching Taxpayers Dry,” click here.) The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, though…
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