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

The Somerset Nine: Pennsylvanias Magnificent Seven

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 10, 2005

What does it take for school board members to be fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money? For the nine members of the Somerset Area School District (SASD) board of directors, the…

Commentary

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Education

Union Propaganda Can’t Hide Charter Schools’ Success

  • October 24, 2004

There they go again. Back in July 2002, during a slow news period, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a school employee labor union, issued a widely cited report "showing"…

Commentary

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Education

How to Increase Teacher Pay

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 7, 2004

Few people will disagree that the best school teachers are often paid less than they deserve. But even fewer people agree when it comes to figuring out what to do…

Commentary

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Education

Pennsylvania Needs School Board Rent Control

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 2, 2004

Pennsylvanians are once again being reminded this spring that they never actually own their homes; they only “rent” them from their local school board. As school districts across the commonwealth…

Commentary

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Education

Referendum: School Taxes

  • May 11, 2004

Pennsylvania homeowners lack the right to vote on school property tax increases, while citizens in 44 other states enjoy some form of taxpayer protection. As Pennsylvania legislators debate whether or…

Fact Sheet

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Education

The Fight for Educational Freedom

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 29, 2004

Matthew J. Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation, delivered the following remarks at The Heritage Foundation's Resource Bank dinner in Chicago on May 29, 2004, in honor of Virginia Walden-Ford,…

Commentary

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Education

Set Our Teachers Free!

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • April 14, 2004

Remarks of Matthew J. Brouillette, President & CEO, The Commonwealth Foundation I'm Matthew Brouillette, president of The Commonwealth Foundation. Prior to moving into the world of public policy, I…

Commentary

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Education

Racial Bias in Pennsylvania Special Education

  • February 17, 2004

If you are an African-American or Hispanic male in a predominantly White public school in Pennsylvania, there's a good chance you have been labeled as "Learning Disabled." That is the…

Commentary

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Education

Quantity Counts 2004

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 12, 2004

What do you do when you want more money and you already boast the 3rd highest per-pupil revenue in the nation and the highest teacher salaries in the country, when…

Commentary

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Education

Should Pennsylvania Consolidate Its School Districts?

  • September 23, 2003

Rep. Victor Lescovitz (D-Beaver) wants to consolidate Pennsylvania’s 501 school districts into 67 districts or fewer, in an effort to reduce costs. While a few states are going in the…

Commentary

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Education

Governor Rendells Rewarding Results & Accountability

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 28, 2003

Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation Thank you Chairman Stairs and members of the Committee for the invitation to testify this afternoon on Governor Rendell’s “Rewarding Results and…

Commentary

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Education

Governor Rendells Early Childhood Investment Fund

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 15, 2003

Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette, President, Commonwealth Foundation Good afternoon, and thank you Chairman Stairs and members of the Committee for the opportunity to address the topic of early childhood…

Commentary

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Education

What $17.4 Billion Cant Buy

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • March 21, 2003

There are few things in Pennsylvania that $17,438,840,000 cannot buy. Yet in signing the 2003-04 Budget, Governor Rendell told Pennsylvanians that $10,400 average per-pupil revenue is simply not enough to…

Commentary

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Education

School Taxes and Education Quality: Rendells Rhetoric Versus Reality

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • January 22, 2003

Governor Rendell’s inaugural speech reiterated his campaign promise to reform Pennsylvania’s school funding and property tax system while boosting the state’s share of total school revenue to 50 percent. But…

Commentary

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Education

Waiting at the Cradle

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 16, 2002

"Hey, what about the kids?" That is the slogan for a multimillion-dollar public relations campaign called "Focus Five for Kids," created to highlight children's issues during the Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaign.

Commentary

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Education

The Pennsylvania State (Everything But) Education Association

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • September 25, 2002

Almost as predictable as the beginning of the football season is the start of the strike season by public school employees in Pennsylvania. And the kick-off to the 2002-03 school…

Commentary

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