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
Budget Facts 2009: State Education Spending
Pennsylvania faces a $3 billion tax revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund Budget. Competing proposals from Gov. Ed Rendell and the Republican-led Senate differ on raising taxes and reducing/reprioritizing…
Fact Sheet
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Will Government-Run Preschool Help Fight Al-Qaeda?
The Patriot News has a blurb about former generals saying that government-run preschool will help improve the military, and that if the Pennsylvania Senate budget passes, the terrorists…
Media
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Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)
The Blackhawk Education Association sparked ligation costing taxpayers in the Blackhawk School District over $160,000. The district was paying tutors the rate of substitute teachers, but the union had…
Media
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Philadelphia Limits Choices for School Children
Brad Vasoli has a troubling article in The Bulletin about how the Philadelphia School District is trying to limit the enrollment of charter schools in the district. District officials…
Media
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Private Funding for Public Schools
Several Pennsylvania school districts, such as Upper Moreland, are considering proposals to sell advertising space on district school buses as a means to raise additional revenue. Rather than turning…
Media
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Get the Quarter Back
There is an old joke, with many variations that goes something like this: a foreigner came to visit a friend in America, and they went to watch a Pittsburgh Steelers…
Commentary
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Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?
The Heritage Foundation has a new backgrounder asking, “Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?” The short answer is NO. For the long answer, they examine universal preschool programs…
Media
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PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in Support
Despite all the whining about budget cuts from the Rendell Administration (even though Rendell demanded there be “no whining”), Pennsylvania school districts are set to get substantially more…
Media
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Saving School Choice (and Savings of School Choice)
Great new video from ReasonTV on the DC Voucher program, and the threats to eliminate it, despite a US Department of Education report that it helps improves student learning…
Media
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Weighted Student Funding Formula
Reason Foundation has a new yearbook and resources on weighted student funding. Weighted student funding is a way for school districts, and states, to fund students instead of school…
Media
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Rethinking Financial Aid for Higher Ed
Andrew Gillen of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity has an interesting analysis of the effects of federal and state financial aid programs for colleges and universities. Namely,…
Media
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Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?
Several state lawmakers and parents are protesting Governor Rendell’s proposed closing of Scotland School (HT GrassrootsPA) – a school ostensibly for children of veterans – claiming we must…
Media
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Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?
Several state lawmakers and parents are protesting Governor Rendell’s proposed closing of Scotland School (HT GrassrootsPA) – a school ostensibly for children of veterans – claiming we must…
Media
Read More: Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?Education
Charter Schools Always Face a Financial Struggle
Kevin Ferris has a piece in the Wall Street Journal on the difficulty that charter schools face funding their facilities. Ferris uses as his case study First Philadelphia Charter…
Media
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Repealing Prevailing Wage Would Save Schools and Taxpayers Money
Sen. Mike Brubaker this week introduced S.B. 695, proposing a three-year moratorium on the application of Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law to school construction projects. The Pennsylvania…
Media
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Vouching for D.C.
A new report from the US Department of Education finds the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program has been extremely successful. Matthew Ladner has more in NRO on the reports…
Media
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Tuition Relief Act Ready to Fold?
Governor Rendell is still traveling around the state to drum up support for his legalization of video poker scheme. At a recent stop at Reading Area Community College, Gov.
Media
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Study Shows School Vouchers are Working
The latest research on the Milwaukee school voucher program shows significant improvements in student achievement and millions of dollars in savings for state taxpayers. Interestingly, boys seem to be…
Media
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Is Another State Test the Answer?
Recently, a deal was struck between the Department of Education and Pennsylvania’s School Board Association to establish what is known as the Keystone Exams. The exams would cost the state…
Media
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Higher Education: Focus on Students not Research
A new study from AEI bolsters our claim that higher education’s obsession with (often obscure) research lowers the quality of undergraduate education. Professor Bauerlein’s paper entitled “Professors…
Media
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Bailouts and Bull
John Stossel’s latest 20/20 special on bailouts and bull debunks numerous big-government myths, including the bailout mentality. Stosell also tackles toll road privatization, universal Pre-K, medical marijuana, the border…
Media
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