The Pennsylvania Society for the Promotion of Public Economy had a committee devoted to public schools in the mid-1810s, and the Pennsylvania Society for the Promotion of Public Schools was founded in Philadelphia in 1827. The society promoted high-quality education for all Pennsylvania children, including those too poor to afford tuition. The society published reports, responded to inquiries about hiring teachers, and petitioned the state legislature for reform.
From the guide to the Pennsylvania Society for the Promotion of Public Schools record book, 1827-1831, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)