Education
The kids are not all right
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Our children’s test scores are down. They haven’t even reached pre-Covid levels, which wasn’t anything to brag about then. And the students are…
Read More: The kids are not all rightEducation 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.
Related Issues
Education
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
Read More: Higher Education: Focus on Students not ResearchEducation
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
Read More: Bailouts and BullEducation
State Can’t Spend Its Way to Student Success
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
Read More: State Can’t Spend Its Way to Student SuccessEducation
School Choice Battles Wage On
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
Read More: School Choice Battles Wage OnEducation
Rendell Tells PSU to Cut Costs
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
Read More: Rendell Tells PSU to Cut CostsEducation
Dormitory Construction Boom
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
Read More: Dormitory Construction BoomEducation
Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
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
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Charter School LawEducation
Funding for Cybers up For Debate
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
Read More: Funding for Cybers up For DebateEducation
Upcoming Opportunities for Students
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
Read More: Upcoming Opportunities for StudentsEducation
PHEAA: More Wasteful Spending Exposed
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
Read More: PHEAA: More Wasteful Spending ExposedEducation
Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less Government
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
Read More: Pennsylvania School Boards Want Less GovernmentEducation
Stimulus money to go to PA Universities
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
Read More: Stimulus money to go to PA UniversitiesEducation
The Scotland School, the State Budget, and School Choice
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
Read More: The Scotland School, the State Budget, and School ChoiceEducation
School Choice Hypocrisy Coming in DC?
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
Read More: School Choice Hypocrisy Coming in DC?Education
Time for Universities to Focus on Education
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
Read More: Time for Universities to Focus on EducationEducation
Home Sweet Home
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
Read More: Home Sweet HomeEducation
Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PA
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
Read More: Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PAEducation
Fact Check: PA Education Spending
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 SpendingEducation
Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State Analysis
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
Read More: Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State AnalysisEducation
Piccola Offers Alternative Plan for PA Higher Ed
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
Read More: Piccola Offers Alternative Plan for PA Higher EdEducation
High Marks for Higher Ed Reforms
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
Read More: High Marks for Higher Ed Reforms