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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) Strengths and Weaknesses of Funding: The weakness of Pennsylvania's system of funding public education is that it fails to effectuate equality in education. This failure is largely due to the fact that we are overly dependent on real property taxes. The state legislature has the ability to effectuate tax reform that can work to fix the public education funding issue. I believe is the most imperative issue facing the legislature. I strongly support property tax reform that has as its primary focus creating equality among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. 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) No Child Left Behind: The best way for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to help students meet standards is to ensure that there is adequate funding for them to do so. Currently there is little if no correlation between the state's system of financing education and the performance requirements placed on students and school districts. I believe it is important for Pennsylvania to continually assess the costs to achieve the target performance levels, then upon review of those assessments, appropriately channel state funding to the districts most in need of greater assistance, as determined by performance measures. 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) Academic Gap across PA: Again, I believe the first step the legislature must take to address the discrepancies in achievement throughout the state is ensuring adequate funding is available. Instead of the current practice whereby the state essentially gives school districts the amount they were given in the previous year, I would support a reinstitution of a funding formula that is honestly followed, providing greater funding to the school districts that are most in need, as determined by the performance measures. As a State Representative, I will fight to increase the Commonwealth's share of education costs and work to see that the resources are distributed more fairly among the school districts. 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) Pre-K and Kindergarten Programs: Studies have consistently proven that early childhood education is crucial to ensuring a student's later success in school. Given Pennsylvania's current problems helping school-age children attain proficiency in certain subjects, it is obvious that greater funding of early childhood education will help remedy this problem in years to come. As an undergraduate, I did my thesis on the impact of Head Start in Chicago's notorious Robert Taylor Homes, reporting on the huge impact that early childhood education has, especially in the poorest communities. I have also volunteered as an advocate in the juvenile court system for the past seven years, and on each of my cases, I have fought to get the children enrolled in early childhood programs. As a State Legislator, you can be assured this is an initiative I would strongly back. I would like to work to see Pennsylvania become a national leader in this area. 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) Vision of Public Education Opportunity: Aside from my family, my education has been the most influential factor in shaping me as a person. I am very fortunate for the educational opportunities I have had, from attending the Pittsburgh Public Schools Scholars Program while in grade school, to later receiving an academic-athletic scholarship to attend the University of Chicago (where my concentration was public policy with a minor in education policy), and later earning my law degree. I never take these opportunities for granted and have always been very active in promoting education. I serve as the Western Pennsylvania Chairperson for recruiting activities for the University of Chicago. This at times provides a unique experience, because as a practical matter, I am often interviewing students from very educated and often fairly wealthy families - students who have benefited from top notch educational opportunities. I cannot even master the words to express the vast divide I witness between these students and those at peril from schools with inadequate funding. There are certain factors that public education cannot provide to help achieve equality (e.g., safe neighborhoods, stable family life). It is, however, the responsibility of public education to give less fortunate children an equal chance in school - to "even the playing field" in the classroom. I believe very passionately that public schools must provide that equal opportunity in the classroom, that it is a right each child has (although not constitutionally recognized in Pennsylvania), and I would do anything in my power as a State Representative to help improve public education. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) Strengthen PA's system: Because of my interest in advocating for public education, as a State Representative I will seek to be appointed to the Education Committee. I additionally have an interest in serving on the Children and Youth Committee. Whether appointed to either of these committees or not, I will work diligently to see there is better intergovernmental cooperation among the departments that impact public education in the Commonwealth.
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