#47 Fund Students, Not the System

Applying "One Statistic, One Story, One Solution" to Education Reform:

One Strong Statistic:

• $22,000 in funding per student in Pennsylvania
• Supporting number: Nearly $7 billion in school district reserves

One Compelling Story:

• Pennsylvania's education system story arc:
  • More funding, more teachers, more programs
  • Yet outcomes keep getting worse
  • Enrollment down, spending up
  • Test scores declining despite investments
• Reframes the narrative: "You weren't wrong to want to fund schools, but it's time to try something different"

One Clear Solution:

• Fund students, not systems
• Let money follow the child
• Lifeline Scholarships as a specific policy example
• Give families in lowest-performing schools freedom to choose better options

Message Framing Considerations:

• Acknowledge positive associations with local schools/teachers
• Address negative feelings about the overall system
• Show how system-level fixes have failed
• Highlight growing alternatives (charter schools, homeschooling, private schools)

Key Takeaway: "Instead of sending money to a system that's failing, we send it to the student—so they don't have to wait for the system to change."

For more tips on messaging education reform, refer to the accompanying one-page PDF.

Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion.

For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com