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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) Weakness - reliance on property taxes. 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) More master teachers who are certified in their subject areas; more hours of instruction in math, science, and reading. 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) We need to increase the number of students who are assigned to remedial and other classes that will assist them in raising their academic standing. 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) Mandate K-5 for all PA students. 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) Any student from any school district should graduate from high school with no less than a solid, basic education, i.e., a high school graduate should be able to read a simple set of instructions and follow them, write a business letter, prepare a simple budget, be able to do simple arithmetic, calculations, etc. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) Encourage competent individuals in private industry who may want to go into teaching to be able to do so with a minimum of hardship in securing teaching credentials.
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