Conducted by the Pennsylvania Education Funding Advocacy Group for 2004 Pennsylvania General Election Legislative Candidates Name: Tim Kearney Candidate for: State Representative Party: Democrat District: 172 (Philadelphia 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) Fund it as if my social security depended on it. Fund it like Lower Merion Township does. Fund it, or fund more prisons. Fund it as if we loved our children and grandchildren. 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) With lots of money. With lots of accountability. Some aspects of No Child Left Behind should be ignored. 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) Give all schools ample resources and accountability. Give poor preforming schools more resources and more accountability. 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) Pay for them; they are much cheaper than prisons, and better than pro sports stadiums. 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) Every school should be like Lower Merion Township, but with its own personality. I will vote for public school funding and help organize to accomplish it. Survey Homepage | Candidates By District | Alphabetical Index (House Candidates)