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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 system is that it recognizes the importance of academic excellence and equity in education. The weakness is that it does not deliver on this goal. Pennsylvanians spend $1,000 more per pupil per year than the national average and teachers have the highest cost-of-living adjusted salaries in the nation for public schools, yet educational achievements are spotty at best. The legislature must allow more free-market forces into the public school system in order to make any consistent progress. 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 should clearly state that it is not the role of the federal government to place educational requirements on states and disregard any such mandates. To teach in order to reach specific goals on certain assessments will invariably result in neglect of other areas, such as arts and humanities in this case. This will detract from the ability of the public school system to prepare students to be well-rounded citizens and productive members of society. 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 fact that this gap exists is evidence that the current system is not working. Parents and students, as consumers in the education market, must have choices to pursue their varied interests, beliefs and preferences. Schools, as producers in the education market, must be able to meet these demands. The legislature must give schools the flexibility to address the needs of the community and must re-structure the way education is funded to allow parents and students choices. 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) By increasing the flexibility of school districts to meet the demands of parents and by modifying the funding of public schools to allow more choices on the part of parents and students, access to these programs will be increased. 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) All parents should have the opportunity to educate their children in a manner consistent with their values and beliefs. Students should be able to focus on areas of interest and be able to progress through classes as fast as their ability can take them. Only a market-based educational system can provide this degree of opportunity and flexibility.
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