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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) A major weakness is a lack of an equitable state wide funding system. Legislation should provide funds that will diminish the disparity that exists in today's funding formula. The state should strive to achieve the 50% funding of education which now stands at approximately 33%. 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) Pennsylvania should diminish the impact that the PSSA test has on local school districts whose students fail to achieve the estimated benchmark. Pennsylvania should aggressively seek to diminish and hopefully eliminate the impact of "No Child Left Behind." Both the PSSA and the NCLB do not consider the many forces or circumstances that affect a child's abilities and interests and therefore result in penalties to the school districts. 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) A very significant factor that impacts a student's achievement is parental involvement and interest in their child's education. Students engage in many activities and interests outside of school that dramatically diminish the time and effort that they should be directing to their education. The Legislature should be aware of these issues and provide more intervention policies that would help overcome these problems. 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 Pennsylvania Legislature can mandate and provide adequate funding for these programs. Every effort should be made to provide support such as transportation and child care that would permit all pre-K and full-day kindergarten to be successful. 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 the state should have an opportunity to pursue and achieve a successful life and lifestyle. More emphasis and programming should be placed on alternative further education, such as: Community College, Junior College and Career & Technical Education. Since more than 50% of all students who begin a 4 year college program never finish. Students should be made aware that there are many post secondary education opportunities. Too much emphasis by parents and society is placed on 4 years college educations. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) It is imperative that all sectors of the community (parents, family, students, teachers, school boards, community groups, etc…) be drawn together to discuss where we are in education today, where we want to go and what we will collectively do to achieve these goals. There exists today a significant disconnect among these groups which factors a negative public impression that schools are not performing well, in fact public education in Pennsylvania is doing a great job in spite of that small percentage of problems that seem to get unwarranted attention. Instead of criticizing the state of education that is perceived by some a collaborated effort by all stake holders should be exerted to make public education successful.
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