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for 2006 Pennsylvania Primary Election Legislative Candidates
1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Pennsylvania's system of funding public education? What should the Pennsylvania Legislature do, if anything, to improve the system of funding public education? (75 words or less) Pennsylvania's public schools rely too heavily on local property taxes to fund public education. This has led to not only high property taxes, but also a great disparity in the programs that are offered in the state's 501 districts. That is why I supported the FY 2005-06 General Fund budget, which increased state support for public schools, particularly through the Accountability Block Grant Program, and why I advocate increasing the states share of education investment. 2. How should the Pennsylvania Legislature assist school districts to meet the requirements of Pennsylvania's regulations for academic standards and graduation requirements as well as the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that expects every student to demonstrate proficiencies on state assessments in reading, math and science by 2014, and for all schools to demonstrate "adequate yearly progress" (required by NCLB) toward that goal? (75 words or less) Whether or not NCLB was designed effectively, as long as it remains under-funded, it will fail our schools. To address this, the legislature should bolster state funding for public education, while continuing to apply pressure on the Federal Government to properly fund NCLB. 3. How should the Pennsylvania Legislature assist school districts to close the academic achievement gaps that exist among groups of students in schools and school districts across the Commonwealth? (75 words or less) First, we must adequately fund special education and equitably distribute state funding, recognizing that not all children and not all communities are created equally. Second, we need to invest in early education programs so more children get a fair start and fewer children wind up in costly special education and juvenile detention programs. 4. What, if anything, should the Pennsylvania Legislature do to increase access for young children in Pennsylvania to high-quality pre-K programs and full-day kindergarten programs? (75 words or less) During the budget process last year I introduced two amendments on this topic. The first amendment was to increase funding for the accountability block grant program to enable more school districts to offer half day and full day kindergarten as well as smaller class sizes in grades one to three. The second was to increase the state's commitment to Head Start. We succeeded in doubling funding for Head Start last year. I've introduced a similar amendment this year. 5. What is your vision of the public education opportunity that should be available to every child in Pennsylvania and what will you do to accomplish that goal? (75 words or less) As a father of three young children who will attend public school, I care deeply about public education in Pennsylvania. I look forward to working with my colleagues in an effort to increase state support for public education so that we can expand early childhood education programs, reduce class sizes, improve accountability, and boost achievement so Pennsylvania's children are prepared for our global economy. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) Did not answer.
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