I believe that education is the key to success, not only of the individual but also our state and nation. An educated workforce is necessary for economic growth and prosperity
Our educational system will only work well when our state and local governments work with their community to improve the quality of education and put strong accountability measures in place at every level. For every dollar the state chooses not to spend in education now, we will spend $7 on the long-term unintended consequences of not preparing our students for a productive life. We will pay those costs in funding prisons, and welfare for people not able to make a living. Education needs to be a top priority for this state so that we can build a stable economy and a responsible society. The requirements for this to happen are:
- Establish and maintain adequate state appropriations for all schools. Years ago our state developed a formula for equitable school funding that this administration has set aside.
- Improve the quality of the academic programs that educate teachers and help teachers improve their classroom skills by use of on-the-job mentoring programs.
- Develop an atmosphere in which teaching is once again a respected and revered occupation.
We must bring smart education reforms to Pennsylvania. As a mother of four children and an advocate for many, I know that it is vitally important to have a quality public education for all children, not only for the individual child but also for the success of our state. We must have skilled workers at every level of employment in order to attract businesses to Pennsylvania. I was recently honored by Parenting magazine as Pennsylvania's Outstanding Mom Advocate for Education in 2012. I want to take my experience in the public school system along with the models from successful schools and apply it to improving education policies in Harrisburg.
Educating our children is one of the most important functions of our communities and our state and local governments. The constitution of Pennsylvania requires that the Legislature "provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth." The approach of the Corbett administration and the Republican legislature to cut appropriations for public schools is counter-productive. Their argument that the quality of education does not depend on the state's appropriation couldn't be further from the truth. When state appropriations are cut, the school districts are forced to increase in property taxes, increased in student fees, and cut programs and student services.
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