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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) Strength: The effort put forth, for our children, by various educators, administrators, school board members and educational organizations. Weaknesses: The inefficient manner in which programs are administered and the disparity and inefficiency in funding. I believe both problems could be addressed by eliminating property taxes and shifting funding to a more streamlined, efficient state-based process. This would standardize the system, yet grant local officials the latitude to customize programs to fit their populace. 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) Our legislature needs to properly fund our public school system. Our children are our future. We need to let trained educational specialists do their job, trust in their expertise, then implement proper evaluation techniques. Through governmental and spending reform, the funding should become available to meet these objectives. The NCLB Act has shortcomings, but Pennsylvania should have a plan to become a national leader, not excuses why we are not. 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) Once again, if the funding comes from a central state source instead of local sources, the closing of the achievement gap is attainable. Right now our system is skewed towards affluent areas due to property tax revenue disparities. In more affluent areas, under the new system, parents could supplement the funding if the school district’s net funding is reduced, creating a public-private hybrid. This would be a local decision. 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) First, the state needs to study older students in order to evaluate the overall benefits of kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs and dispel the notion that these programs are not worth the attention they receive. I am a believer in these programs, social skills they present, and the learning capacity of young children. Personally, I believe even more attention and funding should be directed towards such programs for these reasons. 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) I believe every child is entitled to quality, free education in Pennsylvania. As I mentioned, our children are our future. Though our students are now more knowledgeable than ever, we are lagging behind other states and other nations. We also do not provide younger generations the confidence that their efforts in school will not be in vain when we offer them no career and no hope to earn a decent living once they graduate. I believe in giving them these opportunities. If they fail to achieve at that point, the failure is on them. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) Yes. While in graduate school I wrote a journal article entitled “Teenagers and Goal Formulation in America Today.” In this article I argue that we do not have enough guidance counselors in our schools. I believe in requiring a set maximum of students per counselor and standing behind it. Anything less would be unfair to the students, the counselors, and the parents.
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