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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 system's weakness is its' reliance on the unfair and burdensome property tax to fund education. I would enable each school district to utilize a proper mix of taxes for public education as a way to reduce our dependence on the property tax. I also believe that too much money, which could be better utilized in the classroom, is spent on the administration of our schools and by having 501 separate school districts in Pennsylvania. 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) I believe in local control. The state should provide local districts with as many tools as possible to achieve these goals, but allow them to choose which methods work best. Methods that should be considered in achieving increased scores might include allowing parents to enroll children in school programs earlier, mentoring and tutoring programs and professional development for teachers. Additionally, we must advocate increasing the state's share of spending to local districts encouraging the federal government to be responsible for their share and fight to stop these types of unfunded mandates. 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) As Missouri found out in its state task force and I believe as well, improving teacher quality is the single most important factor in eliminating the achievement gap. The state should help support and increase the supply of effective teachers. Having the best teachers possible is key to student accomplishment and our objective as Legislators should be to have a qualified teacher in every Pennsylvania classroom. I also believe that increasing parental involvement is essential in increasing academic achievement. 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 believe that is a decision best left to each individual district and it's residents to make in order to meet the particular needs of the children in that district. 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 the state should help support and increase the supply of effective teachers and they should be given the tools necessary to carry out their trade. Having the best teachers possible is key to student accomplishment and that the state must act to ensure the presence of a qualified/effective teacher in every Pennsylvania classroom. I believe that we must also provide a safe learning environment for our children and support alternative education plans that fit within budgeting constraints, for disruptive students. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) I would work to change the current funding formula to more reasonably align growing school population needs with appropriate state funding participation. Additionally, I would support initiatives that encourage school regional purchasing and regional administration concepts to ensure most efficient operation. Remove burdensome federal and state mandates from our education requirements. I would advocate local curriculum control stressing core-learning subjects and by empowering local administrations and boards to use alternate learning models to achieve results.
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