I’ll be submitting this questionnaire in parts. Here is Part 1:
Question 1. NEA opposes any federal voucher plan, including demonstrations programs. Do you support or oppose NEA’s position?
Answer: Oppose
Dr. Paul says, “Parents should decide where to spend each child’s portion of school taxes. Just as with the GI Bill the funds should follow the student to the school of choice. Competition breeds excellence.”
Question 2. Improve the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
a. NEA supports an accountability system that measures schools on more than two statewide test scores. NEA supports giving states the flexibility to design accountability systems that include statewide assessments and other measures, such as local assessments, teacher-designed classroom assessments collected over time, student portfolios and other measures of student learning, graduation/dropout rates, in-grade retention, the percent of students talking honors/advanced classes and AP Exams, and college enrollment rates. Assessment systems must be appropriate, valid and reliable for all groups of students, including students with disabilities and English Language Learners. NEA believes that school quality cannot be fairly or accurately measured by the current No Child Left Behind accountability provisions.
Do you support or oppose NEA’s position?
Dr. Paul says, “I would have voted no on No Child Left Behind. Decisions on education should occur at the state and local level by teachers, administrators, school boards, and parents.”
b. NEA supports the inclusion of ESEA of provision to allow states, districts, and schools to measure growth in student learning over time, rather than the current snapshot that is taken on one day.
Do you support or oppose NEA’s position?
Dr. Paul says, “Opposed to reauthorizing any federal control of schools. Would work to repeal No Child Left Behind.
c. NEA supports a dedicated federal funding stream to assist states and school districts by hiring additional highly qualified teachers to reduce class sizes to ensure that all students receive the individualized attention they need and to help teacher in maintaining an orderly classroom environment. NEA supports the inclusion of ESEA of a program to provide funds to assist states to reduce class size in targeted grades and schools.
Do you support or oppose NEA’s position?
Dr. Paul says, “I am against any federal funding or control of education. Historically, education was funded and controlled locally. Even now, most funding is local. You can’t have it both ways. Most teachers despise No Child Left Behind. If you want to be rid of it, you must also oppose federal funds!
d. NEA also supports a combination of federal programs - through direct grants and tax subsidies to states and school districts - for school modernization to build schools for the 21st century equipped with technology and modern equipment, that accommodate small class sizes, and that are safe and conductive to teaching and learning.
Do you support or oppose NEA’s position?
Dr. Paul says, “Revenue for education should be local. Once you allow the federal government in, you lose control.
e. NEA supports the following proposals to improve teacher and other educator quality:
* Revising ESEA Title II - the Teacher Quality State Grant program - to align federally funded teacher professional development with National Staff Development Council Standards
* Providing federal funding for salary enhancements for teachers who achieve certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
* Expanding federal support for high-quality mentoring programs for new teachers
* Providing funding for high quality, ongoing professional development for educators
* Providing financial incentives to attract and retain high-quality teachers in hard-to-staff schools
Do you support of oppose NEA’s position?
Dr. Paul says, “There is no Constitutional enumeration for federal education. The Constitution allows states and cities to participate in educations; period.”
f. NEA supports inclusion of programs in ESEA that help enhance family and community involvement with students and schools. These programs would provide family literacy training, parenting classes, and translators for parent-teacher conferences. The programs would also encourage school-parent compacts signed by parents, require, as part of ESEA professional development programs, the skills and knowledge needed for effective parental and family communication, and expand funding for ESEA’s Parent Information and Resource Centers.
Do you support or oppose NEA’s position?
Dr. Paul says, “As long as funding and control is local.”
3. Increase Funding For the No Child Left Behind Act and for IDEA
a. NEA supports substantial increases in funding for No Child Left Behind programs, particularly Title I.
Do you support or oppose NEA’s position?
Dr. Paul says, “I have yet to meet a teacher who favors No Child Left Behind and the Teacher’s Union wants to increase funding for No Child Left Behind?
b. NEA supports fully funding special education (IDEA).
Do you support or oppose NEA’s position?
Dr. Paul says, “I support state and local funding for all facets of education.”
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