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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) The weaknesses of the system are the lack of equity, adequacy, accountability, and predictability. Children should not be denied an excellent education just because they live in the wrong zip code. 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) $200 million was given to PA school districts for the 2005-2006 school year for research-based programs to increase student achievement. Called Accountability Block Grants, the money will help districts provide added resources to improve the quality of education, such as full-day kindergarten which helps children early on when it counts most. 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) Pre-k and full day kindergarten should be funded in order to help children be better prepared for and ready to achieve in the primary grades and beyond. 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) I would support continuing to fund the Accountability Block Grants program. 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 state needs to increase its funding to school districts through a dedicated percentage of broad-based taxes, such as sales tax and state income tax. The Legislature must live up to its constitutionally mandated responsibility of providing a thorough and efficient public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) Public education and the way it is funded will be my top priority. I will do the needed research, ask the right questions of the experts involved, and work to find consensus in the Legislature to get the required results.
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