 |
|
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) The greatest strength in the Pennsylvania educational system is the number of high-end public colleges and universities in our state. The worst aspect of current policy is the over-reliance on revenue from property taxes to fund public education. This leads to a great disparity in educational funding between poor and more affluent school districts. I support finding a more fair way to fund public education in our state. 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 failure of the Federal Government to adequately fund No Child Left Behind has put an undue burden on local school districts. In lieu of proper funding by Federal authorities state government must step up and assist local districts financially to meet the goals set forth by this federal act. 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) The state government must end the inequitable way in which it funds public education. Revenue from property taxes should not be the main way of financing public education. 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 record in funding pre-K programs is the worst among states above the Mason-Dixon line. We should fund early education and full-day kindergarten programs throughout the state. As the Education Commission of the States has proven, full-day kindergarten and investment in early education have a substantial positive impact on the intellectual and emotional development of young 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) The centerpiece of my campaign has been the implementation of the Hope Scholarship in Pennsylvania. The HOPE Scholarship, which was started in Georgia, provides full-tuition, four-year scholarships for all high school graduates with a "B" or better average and at least 80% attendance. Currently, Pennsylvania state colleges are the most expensive in the nation. The Hope Scholarship would provide more opportunity to all Pennsylvania's young people and especially those currently being priced out of college by the nation's highest tuition rates.
|