June 29, 2023TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerDebate over publicly funded private school vouchers could push Pa. budget past June 30 deadlineby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PARepublicans who control the Pa. Senate and Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, have backed a voucher proposal known as the lifeline scholarship program. State House Democratic leadership has balked.
June 22, 2023TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. Gov. Josh Shapiro affirms support for funding private school vouchers amid budget pushby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PACiting potential decreases to public school funding, Democrats, education advocates, and unions oppose a bill that would create "lifeline scholarships."
June 14, 2023TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. budget 2023: How a landmark school funding lawsuit is shaping negotiationsby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAHow to fix Pennsylvania’s school funding system is front and center during this year’s budget negotiations in the wake of a landmark Commonwealth Court ruling.
June 9, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerDisputes over education spending, cash reserves emerge as Pa. budget deadline approachesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe Democratic-controlled state House passed a budget plan this week that includes a major boost to education spending. It faced immediate opposition from Republicans who control the state Senate.
June 6, 2023TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. officials spent $12.6M on private lawyers to fight challenge to state’s education fundingby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe legal battle, two state officials privately acknowledged, carries one of the highest price tags for outside lawyers in decades.
Feb. 9, 2023TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro, Pa. lawmakers may face multibillion-dollar budget question after major school funding rulingby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA judge says Pennsylvania's school funding system so badly underfunds poor districts that it violates the state constitution, handing Gov. Josh Shapiro and the legislature a major challenge.
Sept. 15, 2022Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAEfforts to ban, restrict LGBTQ curriculum in Pa. schools hinge on who becomes the next governorby Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAEducators fear a Florida-like proposed ban on elementary school instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation will teach children that being part of the LGBTQ community is wrong. Proponents contend it’s about “parental rights.”
July 25, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerWolf quietly steers $40 million to Pitt, Pa.’s other state-related universitiesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe move follows opponents of abortion access in the state House unsuccessfully attempting to block funding for the schools over Pitt’s research using fetal tissue.
July 18, 2022Tim Tai / Philadelphia InquirerNew Pa. budget injects $125M into private school tax credit program that lacks basic accountabilityby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAA lack of transparency baked into state law makes it impossible to determine whether the program is actually improving outcomes for students who receive tuition assistance.
July 6, 2022Abby Drey / Centre Daily Times6 ways to engage with our new State College regional bureauby Spotlight PA State College StaffFrom story ideas to events, positive news to your best local photos, we want you to be a part of our historic initiative to rebuild and revitalize local news.
July 6, 2022Photo providedMeet Wyatt Massey, Penn State investigative reporter for Spotlight PA State Collegeby Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State CollegePenn State investigative reporter Wyatt Massey is looking forward to providing a lens of accountability to the influential university, as well as returning to his rural roots.
April 7, 2022Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAIt's hard to track the conditions of Pa. schools. Spotlight PA wants your help flagging health hazards.by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PAHelp us monitor potential health hazards in Pennsylvania schools by filling out a short survey on the condition of your district or building.
Feb. 14, 2022ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerBudget report on Pa. education agency provokes spat between lawmakers, watchdogsby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe Independent Fiscal Office’s finding that “there is little or no correlation” between spending on public schools and test scores raised eyebrows among Pennsylvania legislators.
Jan. 25, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerA massive Pa. corporate tax break lacks basic accountability, report findsby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe failures are not the result of poor oversight, but rather an explicit effort by lawmakers to limit the information that is collected about the tax credit program.
Oct. 14, 2021DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia InquirerA basic guide to vetting your local candidates in Pennsylvania’s 2021 school board electionsby Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAThese races are more contentious than ever, but getting information on candidates and who is funding them is difficult. Use Spotlight PA's step-by-step guide to find the information you need.
Oct. 7, 2021ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerMany Pa. school districts are passing up free coronavirus testing even after a rise in casesby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PAOfficials offered different reasons for the lack of participation, including fear of finding too many cases and simply being too overwhelmed by a chaotic start to the academic year.
Aug. 31, 2021PennLive‘Have they locked the doors?’ Judge presses for details on Hershey charity spat with board memberby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA and Bob Fernandez of The Philadelphia InquirerWith claims of millions of dollars unaccounted for at the Milton Hershey School, a judge considered Tuesday whether a board member's lawsuit for access to financial records should go forward.
June 25, 2021CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerHow the state’s richest charity spends its money: The Milton Hershey School, by the numbersby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAReporters interviewed experts in education and nonprofit finances, as well as dozens of former students, to understand more about how the state’s richest charity spends its money.
June 10, 2021Lisa Larson-Walker / ProPublicaSold on the promise of a college education, some former Milton Hershey School students ended up with debt, hardshipsby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA and Bob Fernandez of The Philadelphia InquirerHershey profits benefit a boarding school that spends lavishly on its low-income students. But that investment comes with strings attached — leaving some students behind and others mired in debt.
June 9, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf sticks by $1 billion plan to close Pa.’s education gap, minus his proposed tax increaseby Shaniece Holmes Brown for Spotlight PAWhile Democrats say the state should put some of its $3 billion revenue surplus into education, Republicans counter Pennsylvania's financial picture isn’t that rosy.
May 28, 2021Lisa Larson-Walker / ProPublicaAmerica’s richest school serves low-income kids. But much of its Hershey-funded fortune isn’t being spent.by Bob Fernandez of The Inquirer and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe nonprofit Milton Hershey School says its founding deed prevents it from spending more money on its core mission, even though that hasn’t stopped the school from making significant changes before.
May 5, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa.’s state university system adopts strategy to address campus racismby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAStudents who pushed officials to address campus racism applauded the progress but said they're withholding praise until they see results.
April 16, 2021Courtesy of PennLiveBoard member sues powerful Hershey School, claims he’s being denied financial recordsby Bob Fernandez of The Inquirer and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAA director and alumnus of America’s wealthiest boarding school claims he had to sue the institution to see how it spends the funding it receives from sales of Hershey bars and Reese’s Pieces.
Feb. 18, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerThe $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districtsby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAGov. Tom Wolf’s idea relies on a hefty tax increase on high earners, which will be a nearly impossible sell to the legislature and many in the public.
Jan. 14, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesHead of Pa.’s public university system to examine historic roots of racism in state schoolsby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PAIn a wide-ranging interview with Spotlight PA, Chancellor Daniel Greenstein said he was “ashamed to admit” he had not studied how the university system has historically perpetuated racial inequity.
Nov. 23, 2020MARGO REED / The Philadelphia InquirerDid you go to Milton Hershey School? Tell us about your experience.by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA, Bob Fernandez of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Beena Raghavendran of ProPublica, and Zipporah Osei of ProPublicaPlease share your experience at the Milton Hershey School to help us report.
Oct. 27, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerSee how much funding your Pa. school district is owed, according to a new reportby Spotlight PA StaffThe analysis of state data shows widening gaps in education spending between affluent and poor communities — and divides in academic performance.
Oct. 27, 2020HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerPa. schools need an additional $4.6 billion to close education gaps, new analysis findsby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Maddie Hanna of The Philadelphia InquirerThe analysis is the latest salvo in a yearslong battle to address inequities in the state’s public school system, one that could intensify as a case moves toward trial.
Oct. 23, 2020Milton Hershey SchoolCourt green lights Hershey’s $350 million plan for six free childhood centers around Pennsylvaniaby Bob Fernandez of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe centers will be the first time in more than 100 years that the charity that controls the chocolate giant, with assets of about $14 billion, will help poor children outside of its rural campus.
Oct. 21, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesSolutions for racism, inequity should be central to redesign of Pa. state universities, senator saysby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PAThe system’s board created a commission this month to review diversity, equity, and inclusion. But a Spotlight PA report found students are tired of such symbolic efforts.