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for 2004 Pennsylvania General 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) Pennsylvania’s system of funding public education relies too heavily on local funding. We must provide a fair and equitable system of education throughout the Commonwealth. The Legislature must enact reforms that require the state to fund at least 51% of public education, so that all of our children, regardless of whether they live in urban centers, the suburban communities, or in rural areas, have access to the same educational opportunities. 2. How should the Pennsylvania Legislature assist school districts to meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act 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" toward that goal? (75 words or less) The Legislature must work cooperatively with the PA Department of Education, our 501 school districts and the teaching profession, to develop a curriculum that will be effective in accomplishing this proficiency goal, but still effectively teach our students the material they need to excel. We cannot allow our education system to fall victim to the “teaching to the test” pitfall. Rather we must empower our teachers to do their jobs, which will enable our students to meet the proficiency guidelines. 3. How should the Pennsylvania Legislature assist school districts to close the academic achievement gap that exists among groups of students in schools and school districts across the Commonwealth? (75 words or less) While spending more money does not equal success, we must level the playing field to address the achievement gap. I believe the most important way to do that is to generate and distribute education funding more evenly across the Commonwealth. All students must have access to educational essentials, such as current textbooks, technology and teachers who are motivated and well-compensated to be in those classrooms. I also support loan repayment programs for teachers who are willing to devote years of service to our communities most in need of improvement. 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) These programs benefit our children, but add costs to school districts’ already overburdened budgets. The Legislature must provide incentive programs to encourage school districts to enact these effective programs. Many of these efforts require money, but I believe money spent on education is an investment, and we can never invest too much in our children. 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) I have often believed that we have the greatest system of education in the world. My vision is to continue to enable children to have access to a wide variety of subjects and educational opportunities, while ensuring that they are proficient in the skills necessary to compete in the future. Communication skills are becoming more important, as are the abilities to effectively use technology and efficiently solve problems. We need to ensure that our children learn these skills, but also have an understanding and appreciation for many subject areas.
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