Election 2010

Tom Corbett's Plan for Education

Summary

The expansion of our economy, the creation of jobs, and the stimulation of growth all depend upon one foundation - a solid education that prepares students to compete in a global economy. All Pennsylvania children, regardless of zip code, race, education or socioeconomic status, deserve access to a first class education to help them achieve their full potential.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plan Highlights

•Promoting Flexible Funding for Schools and Students - Tom will begin to cut the strings from Harrisburg, giving greater flexibility to districts and schools to direct resources to best achieve students learning. Tom's plan will:
•Link funding directly to students and the schools they choose to attend and make that funding transferable with the student. This is especially critical for students in failing schools. Students have a right to attend a good school and not be forced to attend a failing one by virtue of their zip code.
•Better track the use of educational dollars and ensure those with greatest educational challenges get proper funding
•Provide flexible funding for school districts, greater control of resources at the school level and lessen state mandates
•Enhancing Educational Opportunities - Tom will provide better access to great schools and educational opportunities that work student learning needs by:
•Enhancing charter school quality and accountability
•Improving dual enrollment opportunities
•Provide Opportunity Grants for students attending failing public schools
•Growing the Education Improvement Tax Credit program
•Expanding career and technical centers
•Supporting pilot of Innovation School and workforce development
•Ensuring Effective Teachers and Leaders - A more efficient and fair evaluation system for teachers and school leaders maximizes growth and education in our schools. Tom's plan will link student achievement to compensation, as well as expand pathways to teaching and leadership, such as Teach for America, that allow professionals from other fields to enter the education community. Tom Corbett also believes that teachers should be compensated for their excellence in the classroom, most importantly for improving student achievement. He supports merit pay programs, which operate in addition to base pay, not only to incentivize teaching excellence for current teachers, but also work to help recruit and retain the nation's brightest minds by attracting new teachers and non-traditional educators into the classroom.
•Embracing Results-Based Accountability - A system of accountability based on student performance forces schools to place students at the center of our educational system, as well as assists in removing barriers to improvement and gives the state a compelling interest to intervene in failing districts. Tom will develop a school grading system to better explain educational success and identify those schools that are in need of the most assistance.
•Creating Safe Learning Environments - A quality education matters little if our students are at risk while at school. Tom will make our schools safe, and he plans on making them more secure by:
•Implementing mandatory reporting of crimes by schools
•Requiring schools to establish and publicize clear codes of conduct and emergency plans
•Ensuring accurate reporting of school violence incidents
•Broadening the list of offenses that bar dangerous individuals from working in our schools
•Encouraging the use of school safety programs that simultaneously reduce the need for disciplinary action and create a safer learning environment


View a printable version of Tom Corbett's full Education policy (PDF file)