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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) Weakness: Too great a reliance on an unfair local property tax system, exacerbating inequity in funding and adequacy. Strengths: Since the subsidy formula at the State level is frozen against the prior year, the Administration and GA attempt to focus any new funding towards meeting current and specific needs of school districts. The subsidy formula does need addressed. Passage of the Homeowner Tax Relief Act was a first step to replace reliance on local property tax revenues, but much more must be done. We must provide more state funding and allow for a further shift in local funding, and modify the existing subsidy formula and other state formulae to provide every student with an adequate education and to allow for equity in public school funding. One key element that has been missing is credible information about what it costs to adequately educate a student in the public schools. I recently introduced House Resolution 696 which was developed in conjunction with the EPLC, Good Schools PA and the Ed Law Center , to attempt to address that question. HR 696 directs the Legislative Budge and Finance Committee to undertake a statewide costing out study. When that is complete we must commit to fund every student at least at that level. And state government must commit to funding at least 50% of the cost of public education. 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) The Accountability Block Grants are a necessary good start, though they are still not adequately funded. The flexibility provided by these grants allows districts to determine what programs or initiatives will assist them in attaining or maintaining adequate yearly progress. We must, more aggressively, seek adequate funding from the Federal government for NCLB and work with the PA Congressional delegation to remedy implementation problems. NCLB and other standards based measures are important, but they absolutely require adequate funding, better training of teachers and a real commitment to the kind of programs for early childhood education, community involvement efforts and remediation programs that have been shown to work in meeting these standards. 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) Again, the information contained in a costing out report as required by HR 696 which I sponsored will help the General Assembly and education policy makers in closing achievements gaps because it will establish a base cost for an adequate education for a public school student in Pennsylvania. Money alone is not the answer; but money does matter and it does matter how it is spent. The Accountability Block Grants are helping in this area. According to PDE, many districts have used the funding for pre-K and full-day kindergarten programs and computers-in-classroom efforts, which do work. I have also supported specific line items in the budget for early childhood, more teacher training and computer access for every student. Each school district has unique needs in order to close academic achievement gaps; the Block Grants allow for this uniqueness. Modification by the Federal government in relation to English Language Learners is a step in the right direction. It is hoped that the US Department of Education will also address the issue of special education students with modifications or further accommodations for testing purposes. 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) As noted above the Accountability Block Grants are helping to expand access to pre-K programs and full-day kindergarten programs. I will continue to support requiring full-day kindergarten in every district, paid for with state dollars. I support increased State financial assistance to Head Start Programs, and specifically the $45 million supplement proposed by Governor Rendell. I favor providing additional financial assistance for public schools to provide quality pre-K programs. There is a convincing body of research that shows early childhood education programs are an excellent investment and are extraordinarily helpful in addressing achievement gap issues. This is a fundamental step in providing an equitable and adequate education to every Pennsylvania student. 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) The PA Constitution makes the General Assembly responsible for providing a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth with the General Assembly. I take that responsibility very seriously. I am looking forward to the completion of the costing out report required in House Resolution 696 so that it can serve as a base to develop adequacy and opportunity for all public school students. When we achieve that basic level of equity and adequacy we will have met our most basic responsibility in education. I also believe this responsibility extends beyond 12th grade and includes higher education, including vocational training, certificate programs, associate degrees and bachelor degree programs. I have been a leader in fighting for better programs and funding for higher education, and especially community colleges. Next session I will fight to assure that Pennsylvania's children have access to higher and continuing education at a fair price and that the graduates of our public school districts are prepared to enter institutions of higher education. The future economic success of Pennsylvania and our children is tied closely to the education success of its students. It is time for public higher education institutions and workforce development programs to work together to secure Pennsylvania's economic future. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) The list is long, but what is most important is coordinating ideas and funding to provide for a seamless system of public education from Pre-K through, at least 12th grade, and through 2 year certificates and degrees and baccalaureate degrees. There is nothing - nothing - more important than our investment in education. There is a real need to address school building issues in Pennsylvania. Many schools buildings are very old and have suffered from long delayed renovation. I am committed to a specific program to fund infrastructure development in public schools, community colleges and state public universities to rehabilitate our buildings and build modern schools where needed. Every student in Pennsylvania must have computer access in the information age; and that means every teacher and every student must receive adequate computer training. I have tried to address this both through education and communication technology legislation, and I will continue.
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