Education 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.

Education

Higher Education: Focus on Students not Research

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 25, 2009

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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Education

Bailouts and Bull

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 20, 2009

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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Education

State Can’t Spend Its Way to Student Success

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 19, 2009

For years, the educational establishment has claimed that not enough is being spent on public schools – that if more money is pumped into the system, student achievement will improve. …

Commentary

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Education

School Choice Battles Wage On

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 18, 2009

Mary Katherine Ham has an excellent article on the battle over the DC Scholarship Program.The Philadelphia Bulletin also has a recent article, noting an Obama spokesman has said…

Media

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Education

Rendell Tells PSU to Cut Costs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 18, 2009

Yesterday, the Governor met with the Pennsylvania Tuition Coalition, a student group lobbying the state to include state-related schools, like PSU, in the Governor’s tuition relief scheme. Rendell told…

Media

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Education

Dormitory Construction Boom

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 16, 2009

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has an article on the enormous rise in spending on university buildings, which touches on the current debate in higher ed funding:…

Media

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Education

Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 16, 2009

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009 Good afternoon.  I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation.  We…

Testimony

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Education

Funding for Cybers up For Debate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 12, 2009

The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story about an upcoming hearing on charter schools and cyber school funding. As I will be testifying at the hearing, I won’t repeat my…

Media

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Education

Upcoming Opportunities for Students

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 11, 2009

The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of great opportunities for students to learn more about economics, public policy, and the importance of liberty. Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest- Win…

Media

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Education

PHEAA: More Wasteful Spending Exposed

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 5, 2009

On Monday the CEO of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation was fired for excessive travel expenses. Michael Hershock (former head of the PHEAA) spent thousands…

Media

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Education

Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less Government

  • March 4, 2009

The Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) is tired of amassing unfunded regulations from state legislators that grow school bureaucracies instead of improving education. In response, the PSBA has proposed legislation…

Media

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Education

Stimulus money to go to PA Universities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 4, 2009

It looks like someone has gotten around to reading the stimulus bill, and realized their is funding for higher education in there.  The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports state-related universities (Penn…

Media

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Education

The Scotland School, the State Budget, and School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 2, 2009

The Morning Call has a story on Governor Rendell’s proposal to close down the Scotland School for Veterans Children, asking if it is a “pawn in the budget game”. …

Media

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Education

School Choice Hypocrisy Coming in DC?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 1, 2009

The federal “omnibus” bill, despite billions in earmarks an pork, also proposes to cut off funding for the DC Scholarship program, write Dan Lips and Robert Enlow in NRO…

Media

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Education

Time for Universities to Focus on Education

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 28, 2009

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s recent suggestion to establish “no-frills” 4-year colleges. The proposal has sparked debate over what constitutes a “frill”. Francis…

Media

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Education

Home Sweet Home

  • February 27, 2009

WGAL has a feature on homeschooling. Homeschooling has become a popular alternative for families in recent years: over 1.5 million students across the country are currently taught at home…

Media

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Education

Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 26, 2009

A new study from Penn State reveals that local school districts’ assessments, allowed as an alternative to the 11th-grade PSSA exam to demonstrate proficiency for Pennsylvania students before graduating,…

Media

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Education

Fact Check: PA Education Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 24, 2009

A myth floating around Harrisburg is that the state government used to fund 50% of K-12 education, and has reduced support since then. This was most recently stated by…

Media

Read More: Fact Check: PA Education Spending

Education

Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State Analysis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 23, 2009

The American Legislative Exchange Council has released their annual Report Card on American Education. The report is filled with education data – spending, inputs, academic performance – with a…

Media

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Education

Piccola Offers Alternative Plan for PA Higher Ed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2009

State Sen. Jeff Piccola has a new proposal to offer additional grants directly to Pennsylvania students for higher education, and tie this funding to both schools’ holding tuition costs down…

Media

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Education

High Marks for Higher Ed Reforms

  • February 18, 2009

Sen. Piccola’s proposal would increase college affordability, accountability HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today praised the proposal to reform higher education funding introduced by Senate Education Committee…

Press Release

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