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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 Constitution requires public funding for education. Adversely, we allow local school boards to raise taxes at the district level. I feel that on a state-wide level, we should place a limit on local school boards' ability to spend tax dollars without consent from the voters. To do that, local school districts should be required to live within their means. Spending in excess of inflation should be placed on the ballot for voter approval. 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) Each district, based upon its own needs, should be responsible for establishing academic standards needed for graduation. 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) State monies should be assigned to each student. If the student and his/her parents feel that district school is failing to provide a quality education, they would have the choice to enroll in another school that will meet the student's educational needs. 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) Half day kindergarten is sufficient. At 3 and 4 years of age, children need to spend time with their parents. These will be the best sources of education at that age. 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) Each child should have the choice to attend a school that will meet his/her educational needs. I believe this can be accomplished by school vouchers. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) I would encourage parental involvement in order to achieve educational success.
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