Conducted by the Pennsylvania Education Funding Advocacy Group for 2006 Pennsylvania Primary Election Legislative Candidates Name: Jon Eich Candidate for: State Senator Party: Democrat District: 34 (Centre County) 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) Strengths Based on the premise of a partnership between state & local government. Based on the premise of a formula intended to promote equity. Weaknesses No right to education in PA – undermines the premises of partnership and equity. Education is underfunded; PA is 46th in the % of funding for public education. School boards are scapegoats for failed state policy. School boards must deal with lack of taxing options, limits on taxing options, and unfunded mandates. 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 needs to work its way back to an equal partnership between the state and local school boards – a 50/50 deal on funding. That will allow administrators to: Design appropriate policy to equitably fund schools across the state. Provide an education adequate to meet the challenges and opportunities children will face as adults. Commit resources to methods that have a demonstrated record of producing results. Design a curriculum based on a predicable source of funding. 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) Achievement gaps can be attributed to underfunding education in poorer school districts and underutilization of programs that provide tangible results. An incentive program which encourages tiny school districts to join with larger neighboring districts should be offered. Political adjustments to aid ratios should be removed while the “pie” is made larger. School boards should be provided with additional funding mechanisms to reduce reliance on the property tax. 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) If we want to break the cycle of poverty faced by many children, families, and communities, then PA needs to increase the funding for full-day kindergarten and pre-K programs so that every child can participate in these 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) Public education should provide each child with the tools needed to reach his/her maximum potential by: Having the state fund 50% of the cost of public education. Eliminating unfunded mandates. Delaying backend referendums until the state pays its fair share. Providing school districts with a menu of taxing options. Eliminating the “eligibility gap” for handicapped students whose funding ends when they turn 21. Using the budget surplus to eliminate the “eligibility gap” and fund education. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) Listen. To you. To parents. To school boards. To teachers, administrators, and staff. I am looking for the best ways to achieve these ends – not necessarily my ways. Survey Homepage | Candidates By District | Alphabetical Index (Senate Candidates)