Education
Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pa., August 13, 2024 — Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate should have Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro asking himself, why Walz, writes Commonwealth…
Read More: Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading PennsylvaniaEducation 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
What Does This Blog Post Inspire You to Do?
When I first heard of President Obama’s planned speech to all students, I didn’t think much of it. I imagined he’d say things like “Don’t do drugs! Stay in school!”…
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Read More: What Does This Blog Post Inspire You to Do?Education
PHEAA Wrongfully Collected $92 Million From Taxpayers
PHEAA is being sued, along with other student loan agencies, for taking advantage of a federal government loophole allowing them to wrongfully collect $92 million. In the 1980’s, the…
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PA’s Prepaid Tuition Program Under Fire
State Treasurer Robert McCord announced yesterday he is delaying increased premiums on Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Savings Plan, which allows parents to purchase college tuition credits at current prices and…
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2009 SAT Scores by State
EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state The College Board has released data on 2009 SAT Scores. I’ve compiled the data into a spreadsheet of…
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School District Makes Due Without Tax Hike
ABC 27 has a story about East Pennsboro School District – the first stop on Gov. Rendell’s bus tour – using fiscal restraint, not higher taxes, to deal…
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Fact-Checking Gov. Rendell and Bill Cosby
This afternoon. Gov. Ed Rendell, school superintendents, and Bill Cosby held a press conference on improvement in Pennsylvania test scores, and calling for funding increases. Unfortunately, they got a number…
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“Special Needs” Status Tied to Warped Incentives
Marcus Winters and Jay Greene from the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research have released a study that shows that offering disabled students special education vouchers reduces the likelihood that…
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Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!?
Jim Roxbury brought to my attention a quote by Governor Rendell that “the one group that has no lobbyist here in Pennsylvania is our children” as well as too…
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Read More: Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!?Education
Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never Enough
The Patriot News has an AP story by Marc Levy, highlighting recipients of taxpayer funding that want more taxpayer funding. It seems these groups are living in another world. …
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Who’s the Teacher?
If you thought the Eagles bringing in Michael Vick was a bad idea, wait until you hear this – the Philadelphia Public Schools might bring in Tony…
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Is the PSSA Too Easy?
The Allegheny Institute takes issue with the latest round of Pennsylvania test results – specifically the 8th grade reading PSSA. They note that not only does the 8th grade…
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School District Consolidation Shows Few Benefits
Last week, the Senate Education Committee held a hearing on proposed school district consolidation. The Allegheny Institute testified, noting that there is little evidence to suggest that consolidation (as…
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Low Standards De-Value Diplomas
The U.S. dollar isn’t the only piece of paper plagued by inflation. While the Federal Reserve drives down the value of the greenback, low academic standards in Pennsylvania are decreasing…
Commentary
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How States Can “Race to the Top” on Education Performance
The Wall Street Journal has an excellent editorial on education funding and performance, as well as the unions’ take on the “race to the top” initiative: All…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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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