Education
Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocates
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer After a more than eight-year slog, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court affirmed what the Pennsylvania Constitution has said all…
Read More: Commonwealth Court ruling is a massive win for education choice advocatesEducation 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
Test Scores Say Students Are Failing, but We Are Failing Them
Originally published at National Review It’s report-card time for students — and for the nation. Bottom line: Education scores are down, gone from low to even lower. The National Assessment…
Media Hit
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Commonwealth Foundation Survey Provides Voter Insights as Legislature Wraps Up Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., June 27, 2023 — Pennsylvania voters remain pessimistic about Pennsylvania’s economy, and they expect state lawmakers to keep a tight rein on the state budget, according to a…
Press Release
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Lifeline Scholarship Program
Overview Lifeline Scholarships (Senate Bill 795 and House Bill 1432) offer an Education Opportunity Account (EOA) to students residing in a school ranked in the bottom 15 percent…
Fact Sheet
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By keeping his promises, Shapiro can help Pennsylvania lead the nation
Originally published in The Morning Call The recent national debt limit boondoggle that occupied Congress and President Biden is a valuable lesson for what not to do in government.
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Educational choice is on the rise, and the data supports it
Originally published in the Patriot-News Across the nation, states are expanding educational options for families. Already this year, ten states have created or broadened school choice programs. Iowa, Arkansas,…
Media Hit
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Gov. Shapiro Reaffirms Support for School Choice, Lifeline Scholarships
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 23, 2023 – Today, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro proclaimed his support for school choice in an interview on Fox News. Appearing on America’s Newsroom with Dana…
Press Release
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Educational choice is an uphill battle that is worth the time
Originally published at LNP All Pennsylvania students and families should be able to choose the educational path that suits their needs. I learned the importance of educational choice through…
Media Hit
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Gov. Shapiro and Pa. lawmakers can address absenteeism, violence by giving kids a lifeline
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. is right: For students within the Philadelphia School District, attendance is a life-and-death issue,…
Media Hit
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This Democrat Governor Could Defy The Teachers Unions And Pass School Choice
Originally published at Daily Caller By following through on his campaign commitments to expand school choice, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro can distinguish himself from other elected officials cowed by…
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Battling for an Educational Lifeline
Originally published in the Reading Eagle Shyanne, a happy seventh-grader at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, lives in Schuylkill County and loves to learn. But her educational journey was…
Media Hit
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Moms know best — cyber schools offer safety and restore self-esteem
Originally published at Broad+Liberty Christopher is a seventh grader doing well in school and has self-confidence that his mom, Kristen, was afraid she’d never see in her son again.
Media Hit
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Students in Philadelphia Need a Lifeline
Background The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that chronic absenteeism rose by 93 percent in the Philadelphia School District during the 2021–22 school year. Research links chronic absenteeism to…
Commentary
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School Choice Report, Episode 6
In our latest episode of School Choice Podcast, guest host Guy Ciarrocchi interviews former United States Senator and Democratic nominee for Vice President Joe Lieberman. The Honorable Sen. Lieberman is…
Podcast
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Former Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman Calls on Gov. Shapiro to Defend ‘Gutsy’ School Reforms
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 13, 2023 — Former Democratic vice-presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman called on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to support Lifeline Scholarships and school choice as he…
Press Release
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Assisting Students in Economically Disadvantaged Schools
Overview The Economically Disadvantaged School component of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) provides supplementary scholarships for Pennsylvania students receiving scholarships and attending private schools with the greatest financial need.
Fact Sheet
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Education Choice Myths and Facts
School Choice Saves Money While Saving Kids School choice reforms are significantly less costly than average per-pupil spending at public schools, which is over $21,200.[1] In contrast, the…
Fact Sheet
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Analysis: Pa. Public Education Gets “Dramatic” Funding Increases
Harrisburg, Pa., June 1, 2023 – Pennsylvania school district per-student spending increased to $21,263 in 2021–22, according to newly released data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The added funding represents a…
Press Release
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Pennsylvania’s education system is broken: here’s how to fix it
Originally published in The Patriot-News Are Pennsylvania schools underfunded? Before COVID-19, 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters thought so. Then, after voters learned the actual price tag, this number dropped…
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Pa. Education Funding Spikes Again
Key Points Pennsylvania school district spending per student increased to $21,263 in 2021–22. State support of public education is up 55.7 percent over the last decade, reaching an all-time high…
Backgrounder
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School Choice Report, Episode 5
In this week’s episode of School Choice Report, host David Hardy welcomes Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano. They discuss the recent mayoral primary in Philadelphia and what it…
Media
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The key to Cherelle Parker’s success? Rejecting the Democrats’ progressive wing.
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Black voters, especially those living in low-income neighborhoods, propelled Cherelle Parker to victory in the Democratic primary for mayor of…
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