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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) Property tax is increasing and is very upsetting to the taxpayer. They begin to immediately hate the teachers and begrudge the students. As a school board member, it is difficult to advocate for strong student achievement, state-of-the-art facilities, quality educators, and safe buildings while telling the taxpayer we will not raise your taxes. This is a difficult balance and is often the responsibility of elected official, many of whom have no experience in any of the above mentioned items. 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) Currently, the PSSA requires that (all) students are tested. The main problem is that special needs students are mandated to take this test. This is not an accurate measure of AYP due to the variables in each district. Depending upon the specific number of special needs children in a given district, AYP will vary, and often will display a negative curve that is inaccurate. I would advocate to a separate test for special needs students based on their IEP. 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) The gap vast. The lower achievers are very low versus the higher achievers being very high. I would recommend that the PA legislature promote programs and grants to supplement the remediation of the lower achiever. In my district (Dallas School District) where I was the President of the Board and currently a member, we have instituted a Math program with additional staff that will address the lower achiever and begin to remediate those students on the lower end. Some help should come from the state. 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) The State should absolutely promote and require high-quality Pre-K programs. All day Kindergarten should be mandatory. In our modern times, we know the research and the facts. Children are like a sponge in their very early years and we are missing a crucial opportunity. Further, most families have both parents working and there is a need for childcare that is often substandard. We could have a win-win situation by mandating all day Kindergarten as well as setting standards for any and all Pre-K Programs. 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) Every child in PA is entitled to FAPE. My first objective is to strengthen early childhood education followed by parenting education. Most parents do not know how to be parents! I would advocate for school districts to serve as "community centers" and strongly encourage parents to be involved in the lives of their children. Secondly, making sure that each child in our state is afforded an equal chance at consistent and cohesive education. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) I would advocate for more training for school board members. Many boards consist of various factions of the community. Business people, construction people, lawyers, etc. Unless someone has been involved directly in education, they do not understand the process. Even for teachers who serve on a school board, I think it is important that training be required for anyone serving on a board.
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