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Secret Corbett poll proposing teachers union attack funded by PennCAN :: Blogs :: The Naked City :: Philadelphia City Paper

Secret Corbett poll proposing teachers union attack funded by PennCAN :: Blogs :: The Naked City :: Philadelphia City Paper:

Secret Corbett poll proposing teachers union attack funded by PennCAN

By Daniel Denvir 
Published: 06/19/2013 | 0 Comments Posted



A secret report, based on a poll of Pennsylvanians, proposing that Gov. Tom Corbettmount a high-profile attack on the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers was funded by the self-described school reform group PennCAN, according to pollsters at Public Opinion Strategies.
The , which suggested that Corbett exploit the to attack the teachers union in an effort to boost his faltering reelection prospects, was first reported by City Paper Wednesday afternoon.

Notably, PennCAN supports school vouchers, which use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition.

PennCAN, which has not yet responded to requests for comment, is part of an expanding universe of corporate-inspired "school reform" groups in Pennsylvania. PennCAN, like many such groups, has deep-pocketed donors.

PennCAN funders include: the William Penn Foundation, which was heavily criticized for its support of "school choice" during the , and Michael O'Neill, who contributed $100,000 to pay for for transforming Philly schools.

PennCAN has also received funding from Janine and Jeff Yass, the latter being one of three partners at the Bala Cynwyd-based hedge fund Susquehanna International Group and major givers to causes supporting school vouchers and similar free-market inspired