education-reform

COMMENTARY
Teacher and students in a classroom.

Opinion: Pa. must adopt clear, sustainable plan to address unconstitutional school funding

BY: - November 30, 2023

By Aaron Chapin Every morning, 1.7 million students wake up and head off to public schools across Pennsylvania, eager to learn and grow in classrooms that are supposed to provide them with a “thorough and efficient system of public education.” That’s what our state constitution guarantees to every student. But in February Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court […]

COMMENTARY

What’s the real cost of charter school tuition in Pa.? It’s more than you think | Opinion

BY: - October 31, 2022

For more than 25 years, Pennsylvania taxpayers have been paying charter school tuition rates that far exceed charter schools’ actual costs.

COMMENTARY

Study: Pa. cyber-charter schools lead on cost; lag on results | Friday Morning Coffee

BY: - January 28, 2022

Pa. spends the most out of the 27 states that have cyber-charter schools, but gets the least return on investment, according to new research

COMMENTARY
Teacher and students in a classroom.

Pa. Special Ed. panel recommends more funding predictability for schools | Thursday Morning Coffee

BY: - December 16, 2021

'These recommendations provide more clarity and consistency for school districts regarding its projected special education costs in planning yearly budgets,' Senate Appropriations Committee Chairperson Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, said.

COMMENTARY

Here’s how education reform can support teachers instead of undermining them | Opinion

BY: - October 5, 2021

Oct. 5 is World Teachers Day. More than ever, educators around the world need our support.

COMMENTARY

Here’s why charter schools in Pa., elsewhere aren’t as ‘public’ as they claim they are | Opinion

BY: - October 1, 2021

Charter schools are not as accessible to the public as they are often made out to be

COMMENTARY

Politics or Practice: What shape will post-pandemic education reform take? | Opinion

BY: - July 26, 2021

At both the school and parent levels, decisions may be affected more by politics than by what will provide the best education.

Students flocked to cyber-charter schools this year. So did district revenue and federal relief funds

BY: - April 14, 2021

Like brick and mortar charter schools, cyber-charters are funded by contributions from public school districts. Districts pay the online schools an annual rate for each of their students who opt to enroll in one. 

COMMENTARY

Pa. Senate education leaders need to give local taxpayers a break on cyber-charter costs | Opinion

BY: - April 12, 2021

Pennsylvania’s antiquated Charter School Law sets the ground rules for payments to cyber-charters and school districts are getting gouged.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos heads for the exits, leaving a legacy of turmoil

BY: - December 17, 2020

In four years in office, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos failed to broaden her appeal beyond the moment she won a wild Senate confirmation fight by the closest of margins. She didn’t even try.

State to consider two new cyber charter schools amidst enrollment boom

BY: - October 14, 2020

This is the first time since 2015 that state regulators have been asked to consider more than one in a single year. 

Should Pa. convert $500M in CARES Act cash into education grants for families? A proposal has advocates split on familiar lines

BY: - October 5, 2020

Pa. is sitting on $1 billion in unspent federal Cares Act funds, some believe the state should convert it into cash payments for parents.