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
Achievement and Education Spending
Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute offers some commentary on the much celebrated improvement in Pennsylvania test scores: It is also quite interesting to note the year…
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The Undelivered Promises of Government Preschool
The Sunbury Daily Item features a recent guest editorial claiming that taxpayer funded preschool, such as Gov. Rendell’s PreK Counts, will have long-term savings by reducing crime and improving…
Media
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Is Our Kids Learning Better Now?
Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Education released the PSSA results (the state standardized tests), and celebrated the results. Of course, the Rendell administration wants to take credit for the…
Media
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Who’s For the Children?
In the television comedy The Office, dim-witted boss Michael Scott remarks that he likes giving presents because they are “like this tangible thing that you can point to and say…
Commentary
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Education Spending Goes Awry
The Easton Area School Board approved a reimbursement plan on Thursday that will be sent to the state Department of Education detailing more than $93 million spent to build…
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The Faulty Premise of the Budget Impasse
Governor Rendell wants the taxpayers to spend more on public schools. So do Republicans in the General Assembly—nearly 12 percent more. Yet education funding remains a major obstacle in the…
Commentary
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PA School Districts Have $2.4 Billion in Reserves
New data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (released last week) show that school districts across the state have a combined $2.4 billion in General Fund reserves as of…
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Will “State-Related” Universities Get Stimulus Funding, No Stimulus Funding, or No Funding at All?
On June 26th the Governor submitted his application for federal stabilization funds, including the following phrase:”The Commonwealth’s “state-related universities” are excluded from all calculations for purposes of the State Fiscal…
Media
Read More: Will “State-Related” Universities Get Stimulus Funding, No Stimulus Funding, or No Funding at All?Education
Rendell Administration Continues to Lie on Education Funding
Pennsylvania Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak continues the administration’s scare tactics and ininaccurate propaganda claiming that the $27.3 billion PA House budget would force schools to increase property…
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“Tax You More Bus Tour” Hits Speed Bump
The “Tax You More Bus Tour” is still puttering along in the taxpayer-funded luxury bus – or at least it was scheduled to. The Department of Education twice attempted…
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Could Pension Crisis Shut Down High School Sports?
Patriot-News sports reporter Rod Frisco took a look at how the looming pension crisis might impact public school athletics. Derry Township School District Superintendent Linda Brewer noted that “every…
Media
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More Dollars is Not Producing More Scholars
A new report from the Math Science Partnership of Greater Philadelphia on Pennsylvania school performance (specifically the 11th grade PSSAs) across school districts finds that: Demographic factors (residents with…
Media
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The “Mis-education” of Ed Rendell
Gov. Rendell wants to increase taxes to continue the double-the-rate-of-inflation spending that has defined his tenure. In order to sell his state budget plan to an increasingly skeptical public, he…
Commentary
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How Colleges are Cutting Costs
Two recent articles in the New York Times prove universities can cut costs without decreasing the quality of education. Susquehanna University saved almost $3,000 as students…
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Salaries for Pennsylvania Teachers and School Employees Online
Stop Teacher Strikes has posted the 2007-08 salary information (collected by Asbury Park Press) for 195,000 Pennsylvania teachers and school employees, searchable by name, district, or position…
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“Is public education socialism?”
In defense of a single-payer health care system, possible U.S. Senate candidate and state Rep. Bill Kortz (D-Dravosburg) asked, “Is public education socialism? No. This is the same thing.”…
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Fact Check: The Costing-Out Study
Today the Governor wraps up his “Tax You More Tour” with Matt Brouillette following stride for stride. Meanwhile, we’re debunking another spending myth: The Costing-Out Study…
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Voters Want More School Funding – Until They Get the Facts
For followers of the Rendell “Tax You More Bus Tour” and the debate on education funding, I would recommend checking out this analysis from Education Next: The…
Media
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Public Schools’ Edifice Complex
John Micek and I (@NathanBenefield) had a little discussion via Twitter over the cost of public school buildings. John wonders what is wrong with having nice school…
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Fact Check: School Choice Saves
As the “Tax You More” lobbying tour continues its journey Matt Brouillette continues to offer the real facts on state education spending. Today’s education fact focusing on how…
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In What World is an 11.7% Increase Called a Decrease?
Harrisburg, PA — Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette continues to follow Gov. Ed Rendell’s taxpayer-funded bus campaign into the northeastern part of the state today. Today’s “Tax You…
Press Release
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