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VOTER SURVEY
Conducted by the Pennsylvania School Funding Campaign for
2008 Pennsylvania Primary Election Legislative Candidates
| Name: |
Judy Hirsh |
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Candidate for: |
Pennsylvania Senate |
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| Party: |
Democrat |
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District: |
15 (Dauphin County) |
1. Do you agree that the General Assembly should recognize that every child in Pennsylvania has a fundamental right to a quality public education consistent with the K-12 academic standards enacted by the State Board of Education?
__X___ YES _____ NO _____ DON'T KNOW
Comments (50 words or less)
2. Do you agree that the General Assembly has the duty to provide for a statewide K-12 funding system that assures adequate educational resources are available to support a quality public education for every child in every district consistent with the K-12 academic standards enacted by the State Board of Education?
__X___ YES _____ NO _____ DON'T KNOW
Comments (50 words or less)
3. Do you agree that the Pennsylvania Legislature must significantly increase state funding to provide for a fair share of statewide K-12 educational expenses to be paid with state funds?
__X___ YES _____ NO _____ DON'T KNOW
Comments (50 words or less)
4. Do you agree that the Pennsylvania Legislature should continue to significantly increase state funding to increase access for young children in Pennsylvania to high-quality pre-K programs?
___X__ YES _____ NO _____ DON'T KNOW
Comments (50 words or less)
The formative, preschool years are a crucial time for intellectual development in children. Pre K programs are an ideal method for not only preventing children from falling behind, but also for giving an academic "boost" to children that will sustain them through the remainder of their school years. Pre K programs should be available to children in all school districts, regardless of socioeconomic status. It just makes sense to build a strong educational base for children, rather than playing catch-up, later down the line. A strong educational base begins with quality pre K programs.
5. 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?
Comments (75 words or less)
Pennsylvania’s system of funding public education is dependent upon revenue form the State as well as the local school districts. Because of the vast disparity among the 501 school districts across Pennsylvania, each school district has it’s own unique student population as well as its own tax base. The legislature must design a system of funding that negates the discrepancies between the educational opportunities afforded children from wealthy districts versus poor districts.
6. What is your vision of the public education opportunity that the General Assembly should ensure be available to every child in Pennsylvania and what will you do to accomplish that goal?
Comments (75 words or less)
Each child in Pennsylvania should graduate from high school with the skills necessary to attain either a productive position in the workforce or to pursue a course of higher education of his or her choosing. The wealth of a student’s school district should not influence a student’s preparedness for either employment or higher education. It is incumbent upon the Legislature to provide a funding mechanism for schools in Pennsylvania that will equalize the educational opportunities available to all Pennsylvania students
7. Is there anything else that you will do to strengthen Pennsylvania's public education system?
Comments (75 words or less)
I would make education a number one priority as a member of the General Assembly. I will work diligently to ensure that the Commonwealth’s system of funding education is equitable and adequate to provide children with the marketable skills they need. The emphasis on funding should return to the teachers and the students and less on the institutions and their test performance
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