Education
Pennsylvania School Funding Reaches $23,000 per Student in 2024
Pennsylvania Public School Spending is Growing Public school spending reaches historic levels year after year. Pennsylvania public school revenue per student increased to $23,061 in the 2023-24 school year, up…
Read More: Pennsylvania School Funding Reaches $23,000 per Student in 2024Pennsylvania’s future is in the hands of the next generation. Parents and students—not activist agendas—should drive the Commonwealth’s education policy. While policymakers have been entrusted with ensuring the next generation receives a quality education, parents should be empowered to choose the quality education that meets their unique child’s needs. Charter schools and tax credit scholarships are integral pieces of school choice, but more reforms are needed to make educational choice a reality for all Pennsylvania students.
Education
Unbalanced, Reckless Spending Bill
Welcome to the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Follow us on X for the latest updates—and help us reach 10,000 followers! PA…
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Pennsylvania Cyber Students Thrive—No Thanks to Governor Shapiro
Originally published by The Pottstown-Mercury. As an elementary student, Luke Downs struggled to read. “I would cry when I read,” says Luke. “And [my school] didn’t…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Cyber Students Thrive—No Thanks to Governor ShapiroEducation
Teacher Unions Limiting Opportunities for Students
Welcome to the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Follow us on X for the latest updates – and help…
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By Opposing Educational Choice, Teachers’ Unions Limit Opportunities for Philly students
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) voted to authorize a strike if the union and…
Media Hit
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Educational Choice for Children Act
U.S. Congress expands educational opportunity for K–12 students nationwide, funding millions in tax credit scholarships for Pennsylvania kids. First-Ever Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program The U.S. Congress passed the Educational…
Fact Sheet
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OBBB Delivers Historic Expansion of Educational Choice, Sweeping Reforms
Harrisburg, Pa., July 3, 2025 — After much anticipation and debate, the One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is now passed and set to be enacted—delivering policy accomplishments that Pennsylvanians can celebrate:…
Press Release
Read More: OBBB Delivers Historic Expansion of Educational Choice, Sweeping ReformsEducation
Nobody to Blame but Himself
Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Have you seen our recent social media videos?…
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Don’t Let Randi Weingarten Fool You: Government Unions Are in lockstep with Democrats
Originally published by Bucks County Independence. Are government union leaders and the Democratic Party about to divorce? Two prominent union leaders — Randi Weingarten of…
Media Hit
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No More Blank Checks for Broken Systems
Originally published by PennLive. As the deadline looms, Pennsylvania lawmakers are nowhere near reaching an agreement on the state budget. This uncertainty in Harrisburg revolves around…
Media Hit
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Voters Are Concerned About Shapiro’s Spending
Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Have you seen our recent social media videos?…
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Six Reasons Why Hold Harmless is Anything But for Kids
Hold harmless is a policy that guarantees school districts the same amount of funding as they had in the prior year, regardless of fluctuations in enrollment. This means that public school…
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Read More: Six Reasons Why Hold Harmless is Anything But for KidsEducation
New Poll: Voters Concerned About Increased Spending, Lack of Leadership
69% of voters believe Gov. Josh Shapiro needs to take a more active role in budget negotiations. Harrisburg, Pa., June 25, 2025 — As the June 30th deadline looms, voters…
Press Release
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Learning Investment Tax Credit
Summary The proposed Learning Investment Tax Credit (LITC), House Bill (HB) 1662, creates a $8,000 per child refundable tax credit to offset education expenses if parents choose a non-public…
Fact Sheet
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Philly Teacher Union Threatening to Strike is Mostly Performative
Philadelphia’s massive teacher union—the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)—has already threatened to disrupt students’ education when the doors open this fall. Just a few months into negotiations over a new…
Blog
Read More: Philly Teacher Union Threatening to Strike is Mostly PerformativeEducation
Where is Shapiro’s Leadership?
Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Have you seen our recent social media videos?…
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Where Is Gov. Shapiro’s Leadership on the State Budget?
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro once said, “Leaders have a responsibility to speak truth.” Yet, truth be told, the governor’s lack of leadership on this…
Media Hit
Read More: Where Is Gov. Shapiro’s Leadership on the State Budget?Education
The Hypocrisy of the ‘No Kings’ Protests
Originally published by Delaware Valley Journal. This past week, left-wing advocacy groups organized nationwide protests under the banner “No Kings,” opposing President Donald Trump. Let’s be real: These protests aren’t…
Media Hit
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Cyber Students: Undeserving Targets of Teacher Unions
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. With all that’s wrong in public education today, what if I told you some good news? There are more than 69,000 students in Pennsylvania who have…
Commentary
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Is Shapiro Serving Students or His Union Backers?
Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Have you seen our recent social media videos?…
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Read More: Is Shapiro Serving Students or His Union Backers?Education
Shapiro Still Not Getting Stuff Done
Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.Have you seen our recent social media videos?…
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Gov. Josh Shapiro Still Ain’t Got Sh*t Done
Heading into his third budget negotiation, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official slogan starkly contrasts with his legislative accomplishments. A Commonwealth Foundation analysis found Shapiro’s first two-and-a-half years…
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