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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) A weakness is property tax collection. Currently Federal, State and City Agencies are the largest tax delinquents with almost $42M. The lack of paid taxes by government agencies cause hardship to our Philadelphia Public Schools. The top 100 corporations only make up $68M. The State should be able to rectify this issue. SEPTA owes $20M. Vacant lots and abandon factories need to be transformed into in revenue generating operations also. 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) At the state level we can hire analysts for use by all the districts verse each district becoming experts. We also could supply extra temporary funds for Teaching Assistants for local schools that need more direct time with students. 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) Pennsylvania can offer bonus funds or locality pay incentives for teachers and teacher assistants where the gaps are. The State of Pennsylvania an also analyze projected student population trends and offer moving expenses to teachers to relocate to areas with projected needs across the state. 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) The Pennsylvania Legislature could develop a program to foster creation of pre-K programs in critical areas. The program would include special business designations and operational support training free for the first 2 years. The schools would use local area employees and this will allow parents to pursue employment and educational opportunities of their own. 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) Public education is vital to the continued growth of our State and if our students can not read then it makes no sense to pursue the high tech job market. Construction dollars can be reallocated to union teachers at private schools. This way more funds go directly towards teaching students. Philadelphia can not afford to build schools in the high value real-estate market and we have to use the excess capacity resources that are available.
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