 |
|
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 current system harms both students & taxpayers. Funding levels vary by district according to local wealth. Taxpayers are taxed at varying levels. I support a ballot referendum to have the citizens of Pa decide if the state & federal government should fairly, fully & equitably fund public education. Property taxes to fund public education should be eliminated. Any public funding system should promote accountability, efficiency, stability, fiscal neutrality, taxpayer & student equity as articulated by PARSS. Quality of education should not be a function of the wealth of a local community just the wealth of the entire state. 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) We must provide leadership to determine standards that are fair, clear, rigorous, focused & aligned. We must determine the implication of proposed standards on curriculum, instruction, assessment & professional development. For schools that do not meet standards we must change the impact of funding from punishment to support & establish programs to monitor & assess any extra help that a school district may need. 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) By providing equitable education resources & opportunities to all school districts through a fair & equitable funding system. 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) Our legislature must recognize, as does Governor Rendell, that PreK & kindergarten programs are an integral part of our Commonwealth's public education & social learning system. These programs should be funded & available to all children & all school districts. 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) All children should have an equal opportunity to participate in quality education programs. There should be no necessary relationship between quality of education & the wealth of an individual school district (PARSS). I will work to change the funding system of public education & implement a review of the existing programs to determine their effectiveness & relevance to our public education system. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) Yes, we need to meet with focus groups of parents, students, teachers, and administrators to go where "The rubber meets the road" to bring front line information where we can apply proven problem solving methods to achieve a plan to move forward. We need to put all funded programs on the table for discussion & review.
|