The Candidates and Education

Times Leader has an in-depth look at the candidates and the issue of education:

Paul Kanjorski

Democrat

11th Congressional District

• Supports an increased focus on math and science

• Favors improving early childhood education, expanding literacy programs through school library systems, and helping provide funding to modernize schools

• Supports (and co-sponsored) legislation to fund school modernization projects and improve student literacy

• Supports legislation (which he introduced) to address the credit crunch to help make sure that student loans are available

Lou Barletta

Republican

11th Congressional District

• Says the No Child Left Behind legislation had good intentions but said the bill is not working

• Favors a bipartisan solution to the education system

• Cites an innovative program used in the Hazleton Area School District called Partners in Education, which brings together school administrators, teachers and employers and teaches topics such as math and history as well as skills considered essential by local employers

Chris Carney

Democrat

10th Congressional District

• Says “teaching to the test is wrong”

• Supports (and authored) legislation that ensures students are evaluated for consecutive years rather than annually measuring entire grades

• Supports early childhood education such as Head Start, Reading is Fundamental and the Striving Readers Act

• Vows to fight to protect programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provides funds to states for the education of children with disabilities

Chris Hackett

Republican

10th Congressional District

• Will work to make college affordable for working families

• Favors local control over federal control and will oppose increased federal regulation and mandates on local schools

• Supports giving maximum opportunities to parents to choose the school that is best for their children, rather than having government dictate to parents which schools their children must attend