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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) My legislative district is composed of suburban and city schools, so I have paid a great deal of attention to how the present method of funding fills their needs. I have found it to be very fair in dividing the funding based on many factors such as growth and local economy. I do believe that future funding needs to be tied into educational factors, and that these factors need to be clearly defined. 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) $19 million has been allocated specifically to provide tutoring for students who are struggling to meet these standards, and this is just part of the $200 million funding provided for local school districts to help their students. The Pennsylvania Accountability Grant program directs districts to implement programs that will meet student needs. 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 Block Grants I mentioned in #2 should help a great deal in eliminating gaps between districts, and the PSSA test should be the most helpful tool in identifying these gaps. Making full use of existing tutoring grants such as the Educational Assistance Program and Classroom Plus should go far in helping the poorest students to catch up to their peers. 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 Head Start program in Pennsylvania has always been considered to be top notch. In addition, funds are available through the Pennsylvania Accountability Grant program to help with pre-K and full-day kindergarten programs. I believe the key is to know the programs and how they are rated, then use available state funding to assist with accessing these programs. 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) A lot of work still needs to be done to define an adequate education and further to then link this to funding to provide that adequate education for all students. I have supported a high level of education appropriation because I truly believe every student deserves an education that will well-equip the student for the future.
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