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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) While Pennsylvania's $4.5 billion Basic Education Funding formula is not perfect, it does account for a variety of factors, including the relative wealth of each school district and targeting more aid to the least wealthy. Currently, 16 of the 21 school districts in my area receive more than 50% of their revenue from the Commonwealth. I am working to provide fair and equitable funding, increased funding for targeted needs, and mandate relief for schools. 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) I believe we should demand nothing less than 100% of our students attaining academic proficiency. While there will always be barriers to attaining this, the goal should be 100%. I will continue to work to ensure that school districts receive the state aid that they need to provide a core education to their students. I will also work toward providing schools as much flexibility as possible to make key decisions to reach the goal. 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) I believe our assessment system provides solid data to identify problem areas. I believe the Accountability Block Grant Program provides school districts a variety options to target aid toward. It is imperative that those school districts that are having trouble be provided the tools, such as those provided in the Education Empowerment Act, to address their unique needs. I also believe that the Department of Education could be more responsive in terms of technical assistance. 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) Pennsylvania's Accountability Block Grant Program, which I voted for, provides $200 million to schools for a variety of areas, including pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten, and reducing class size. I have also supported state funding to supplement the federal Head Start program to provide additional early educational opportunities for children. I support the continuation of these important programs to ensure that they have access to quality programming. 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) In today's information age, it remains imperative that by the time students graduate they know how to read and write and have a fundamental understanding of mathematics and science. That is why Pennsylvania's academic standards and assessments first focused on these subjects. I will continue to work to provide the supports necessary for our schools to focus on the basics. 6. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system? (75 words or less) Internationally, the U.S. is behind in science. As a former teacher, I know students need science to come to life through hands-on learning. That is why I am sponsoring SB 414, which would establish into law the award-winning "Science in Motion" Program - providing funding to colleges to purchase the latest high-tech science equipment and transport and share it with surrounding schools. It provides the best equipment and the instruction to schools that cannot afford it.
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