Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation's weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.
PA House Dems Pass Irresponsible School Spending Bill, Putting Special Interests Over Kids
A Democratic-sponsored proposal to boost public school funding by billions in the coming years and impose stricter rules on cyber-charter schools passed the Pennsylvania House on Monday in a test of political will as lawmakers haggle over the state budget.
The measure also would impose a range of new regulations on cyber-charter schools, including public disclosure requirements for budgets, taxes and reports to the state Education Department. Public schools’ payments per student to cyber-charter schools would be capped at $8,000 a year for those not in special education, a change projected to save public school districts hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Cyber-charter schools are independent public schools that offer classes through electronic means, typically over the internet.
Rep. Bryan Cutler, the Republican floor leader from Lancaster County, called the bill a massive shift in educational priorities that would hurt school choice options.
PA Schools Don't Need More Money, Students Need Alternatives
School districts know how to add, but not Pennsylvania students. Statewide scores show declining student outcomes despite historic public education spending.
Pennsylvania school districts continue to stockpile massive reserves while lobbying for more tax dollars. Recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) shows school district reserve funds reached an all-time high of $6.8 billion last school year, an increase of $836 million from the previous year.
PDE also reported the total amount of tax dollars held in special funds outside of reserves. These are funds for capital expenditures, athletic facilities, and debt service.
Natural Gas Is Leading to a Cleaner Environment, Better Economy for PA
Clean air, water and a good-paying job are the fundamentals on which every Pennsylvanian should agree. Thankfully, natural gas is making this a reality for everyone in the commonwealth, including in the Lehigh Valley.
That’s right — the natural gas that is trapped miles beneath our feet has lead to historic clean air improvement; steady, family sustaining employment; and is keeping the power running around the clock. And the proof of this undeniable progress is in the data.
Pennsylvania’s air is cleaner than ever before, and, according to a new Marcellus Shale Coalition analysis of Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Protection Agency data, increased use of natural gas for power generation has delivered $450 billion to $1.04 trillion in public health benefits.
School Choice Yields High Returns for Vulnerable Students
Imagine if you could wave a magic wand and grant all children the education that their parents choose for them. In the current climate of Pennsylvania politics where school choice has become a battleground, the magic wand is exactly that: a quixotic notion.
However, there is an option for some Philadelphia families with limited financial resources who live in neighborhoods with the lowest performing schools. The Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia offers hope and opportunity to students destined to attend failing district schools.
Not only does the needs-based scholarship program provide financial and other supportive services for families, but data from a new independent report shows that recipients are outperforming their public school peers.
School choice continues to be a hot-button issue in the ongoing budget negotiations in Harrisburg. If you're a passionate supporter of educational freedom, please check out our podcast School Choice Report, hosted by Commonwealth Foundation Distinguished Senior Fellow David Hardy. You can listen to the latest episode here.
