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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) Public education in Pennsylvania is under funded. The legislature should step up and fund at the 50% level. 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) These requirements are additional unfunded mandates. The additional burden to test and train up to these test are being carried by school districts and their taxpayer across the state. I know full well that this is not our legislators fault and the federal government should be sharing the costs of NCLB. Until that time which isn’t on the horizon, equitable funding for public education would be a help. 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 legislature can’t help close these achievement gaps but good teachers can. We need to insure that we have quality teachers in every classroom supported by good administrators with the pupil support personnel to deal with all the issues that effect the daily operations of all our schools. 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) As far as the Legislature unfortunately, it’s all about the money. Since I’ve been here at Blue Ridge, we have started a full day kindergarten and next year in conjunction with Head Start, we are starting a pre-k program. This was all accomplish through the support of the school board and the communities that support the school district with no legislative input. 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) My vision for public education is to provide high quality educational opportunities for all young people no matter what their zip code might be. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) I believe that public education is the great equalizer for all the young people of our commonwealth. I will work tirelessly to insure that all children have access to an adequate education in order for them to be competitive and contributing citizens in global economy.
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