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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 weakness of the current funding system is that it relies to heavely on property taxes. The legislature should eliminate property taxes, and allow school districts to use income taxes for funding. Taxpayers should be able to approve or disapprove all increases in school district taxes. 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) School districts should be able to meet these requirements on their own. Afterall, it is their responsibility to teach Pennsylvanias children. If school districts are unable to meet these requirements, the state government should step in and either take over the failing school district or consolidate it with a school district that does meet these requirements. 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) It is the responsibility of the individual school districts to solve this problem. If school districts can not solve these problems, the state government should intervene and either take over the school district or consolidate it with one that is academically sound. 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 state government should not be involved in pre-K programs. Full day kindergarten should be left to individual school districts. 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 children in PA should recieve a quality education. Parents who have children in schools that do not perform to academic standards should be able to place their children in schools that do perform, public or private. State government should take over school districts that do not meet academic standards.
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