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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) The strength of the Pennsylvania system is the access it provides for all residents, regardless of income, to a K-12 public education. I would support Governor Rendell's plans to use new revenues for education as an innovative approach to increasing the state's share of funding public education and lessening the local property tax burden. 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) Legislation should be enacted to clarify the standards regarding students with identified learning disabilities and how they are evaluated under the No Child Left Behind Act and IDEA. 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) For school districts, funding controls availability of programs. If the state takes over the responsibility of funding all state mandated programs, such as special education, local districts can then use their remaining local revenues for insuring that every child that graduates from high school in Pennsylvania will have a minimum level of academic knowledge. 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) Governor Rendell has attempted to institute this program for some time and needs support in the Legislature. We know so much more about a child's development now than when the education system was structured in the 50's. I would support the provision of high-quality pre-K programs and I would support Governor Rendell in starting those programs in areas where the families are less likely to afford them on their own. Full-day kindergartens are currently being phased-in in my own school district and is being received well by the children and families. 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) My vision is to see the state assume responsibility for funding for all special education. This would alleviate the need to increase property taxes for services which are the result of demographics. By taking on this role, some would say, their Constitutionally mandated role, the "No Child Left Behind" is accommodated and local property taxes can be reduced by some 12-20% of a district's budget.
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