Conducted by the Pennsylvania Education Funding Advocacy Group for 2004 Pennsylvania General Election Legislative Candidates Name: Camille "Bud" George Candidate for: State Representative Party: Democrat District: 74 (Clearfield 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) Pennsylvania is judged to have the nation’s second-most unfair school-funding system. This unfair system was compounded by the Ridge/Schweiker administration’s polices that saw the state’s share of basic education costs dwindle to under 35 percent. The Legislature must remedy the unfairness, including by approving my measures that would boost subsidies to small and rural schools. The Legislature also must live up to the goal of the state providing 50 percent of basic education costs. 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) Fully fund education mandates, and not let leaders propose unfunded mandates and then skulk away for paying for them. Demand accountability. Minds and our money are terrible things to waste. When schools show trouble, provide help with a “best practices” team of advisers and mentors for teachers. Provide a fair school-funding system and 50 percent state subsidy of basic education costs so homeowners are not brutalized by skyrocketing school property taxes. 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) See answers to previous question. Make “Every School a Great School” more than a slogan. Stress early childhood development by reducing class sizes, hiring tutors and expanding Head Start. Improve instruction by offering incentives for educators to seek national certification, requiring continuing education for teachers teaching outside their certified areas and recruiting education professionals. Hold schools accountable by issuing school report cards, requiring reading tests and eliminating social promotion. 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) Gov. Ed Rendell’s Accountability Grant initiative is a great start. However, the Legislature needs to make such investments less dependent on the political whims of the day. The governor’s effort to increase the state’s share of public schools’ basic education costs also will help the effort. High-quality, early education has a proven track record -- build and encourage the effort through fair and adequate funding. 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) I will fight for a public education system that provides a quality education to all children -- no matter what zip code they live in – supported by a fair funding system. We can’t cheat our children’s education – one that allows them to compete in the 21st century marketplace -- without cheating ourselves. The current system cheats all of us – taxpayers, pupils, schools and businesses – and fixing it requires fairness and accountability to and from all. Survey Homepage | Candidates By District | Alphabetical Index (House Candidates)