What is your vision for Mississippi, and how does education fit into that vision?

As Senator for District 29 (Hinds Co.), I am proud to have a 100 percent voting record in support of education (over four years, not just election year). See http://joomla.iworklab.com/website-parents-campaign/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=263

Many legislators (and candidates for the legislature) are supportive of their local schools (close ties to teachers, school board service, volunteering at PTA/PTO, etc.). However, due to political pressure at the Capitol, some of these legislators do not vote to support all of our schools. I encourage all Mississippi voters to rely on The Parents’ Campaign to determine how a candidate for the legislature will vote on education issues.

What do you see as the greatest challenge facing Mississippi schools and how will you address it?

Mississippi schools (and Mississippi teachers) need adequate and reliable funding to do their jobs successfully. I have worked to increase funding in the face of significant opposition. I have also worked to increase accountability for all local districts, especially those that are not performing. Our challenges aren’t simply financial. More than money, parent involvement is the key to successful schools. We must be more innovative: allowing students to choose different pathways to the workforce (while ensuring core competencies), implementing new classroom models and teaching strategies, and attracting and retaining quality teachers. Ultimately, we must increase and improve early childhood education for all children before they enter kindergarten.

For Fiscal Year 2012, the MAEP appropriation is underfunded by $237,386,693. Assuming no more than 2% inflation, the formula would likely require about $2,365,180,600 for Fiscal Year 2014 (to be decided in the 2013 Legislative Session), about $392-million more than was appropriated for Fiscal Year 2012. Would you support getting to this full funding level in two legislative sessions?

Yes. In the Senate I have helped lead the effort to increase the funding for local schools so this gap was not worse. See The Parents’ Campaign website for key votes

Will you commit to closing by a significant margin the current gap between current funding and full funding of the MAEP for Fiscal Year 2013 (to be decided in the 2012 Legislative Session)? The MAEP is currently underfunded by $237,386,693.

Yes

The following issues are very important to the 60,000 members of The Parents’ Campaign. Frequently throughout the year, we get calls and emails regarding these topics, and many of the questions submitted for this questionnaire were about funding for these specific areas. Where do these fit into your funding priorities, and how would you, as a legislator, address them?

• National Board Certification Program Stipend/National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT)

I support full funding of the National Board Certification Program every year and worked to ensure it has been funded since I began serving in the Senate

• Vocational Education

I support expanding vocational education and innovative programs to bring different opportunities to more students. Quality vocation education reduces the drop-out rate and improves our workforce.

• Gifted Education

Gifted education is a vital program for many school districts. To ensure successful gifted programs (in places like Clinton, for example) we must provide adequate funding to districts. Failing to support adequate funding destroys local gifted programs.

• Special Education

See above. We must make sure that special education programs are available to students who need it. However, we must also make sure that students who can be successful in traditional classes are not warehoused in special education classes.

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

I support funding of teacher supply funds and have worked for this issue since I began serving in the Senate.

• Teacher Salaries

We need to protect annual service increases for teachers and work toward implementing a teacher pay increase plan.

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

Thirteen years working at the Secretary of State’s Office gives me a strong understanding of the critical importance of 16th section school trust lands and the Chickasaw Cession payments to Northeast Mississippi counties that do not have these lands. By law, we must fund the Chickasaw Cession payments. Ensuring this payment is maximized requires that we protect all 16th section lands from those who would attempt to weaken the law. Since I have been serving in the Senate, there are proposals each year to do reverse the hard-won progress we have made on 16th section land management. As a member of the Education Committee, I have spoken out and worked to defeat them.

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

We must protect the long-term integrity of PERS. PERS serves not only state employees but city, county, and school district employees (including teachers). At a time when teachers have not seen a pay raise in years, a strong retirement system is one of the best recruiting tools we have.

How can Mississippi get creative to ensure sufficient revenue to fully fund education and other vital state services?

By electing legislators who support all school districts in Mississippi, not just their local district.

In Mississippi, some local school superintendents are elected rather than being appointed by their boards. Would you support or oppose a phase-out of elected superintendents, moving to appointment as incumbent elected superintendents retire or leave their positions?

Support

What would you do to address Mississippi’s teacher shortage?

Expand alternate track certification to allow professional people without teaching certificates an entry into the profession. Protect teacher salaries and PERS to attract and retain quality teachers.

What steps should be taken to improve the quality of teaching in Mississippi?

We need to move toward tracking student progress on a classroom basis to measure how successfully a child is learning over the course of a year.

What steps should be taken to improve the overall quality of Mississippi school leaders?

See above. We need to support programs that provide training to superintendents and principals.

Would you support state funding for a statewide non-compulsory early childhood education program? If yes, what is your plan for getting state funding for early education? If no, why are you opposed to state funding for early education?

Yes. As one of two Senators appointed to the early childhood education task force, I will continue to support private-public partnerships such as Building Blocks. My children enjoyed a high-quality public Pre-K program. Imagine if every child had that opportunity. We need to dramatically expand voluntary Pre-K programs in schools and to improve the quality of care provided in childhood centers.

Steve Stanford

What is your vision for Mississippi, and how does education fit into that vision?

My vision is that every citizen is, at a minimum, functionally literate and possesses the abilities, skills and development needed to realize their full potential personally and professionally. Education is absolutely essential in achieving such potential, which is why it is an investment in our future and should remain a state funding priority.

What do you see as the greatest challenge facing Mississippi schools and how will you address it?

Making sure every child has a quality education, that educators are well qualified and accountable, and that graduation rates are increased. Though other steps are needed to maximize accountability and effectiveness, funding is essential to each

For Fiscal Year 2012, the MAEP appropriation is underfunded by $237,386,693. Assuming no more than 2% inflation, the formula would likely require about $2,365,180,600 for Fiscal Year 2014 (to be decided in the 2013 Legislative Session), about $392-million more than was appropriated for Fiscal Year 2012. Would you support getting to this full funding level in two legislative sessions?

I support getting to this funding level in two legislative sessions.

Will you commit to closing by a significant margin the current gap between current funding and full funding of the MAEP for Fiscal Year 2013 (to be decided in the 2012 Legislative Session)? The MAEP is currently underfunded by $237,386,693.

I support full funding. Once funding is determined to be secured for 2013, I am supportive of then looking for opportunities to reduce the margin.

The following issues are very important to the 60,000 members of The Parents’ Campaign. Frequently throughout the year, we get calls and emails regarding these topics, and many of the questions submitted for this questionnaire were about funding for these specific areas. Where do these fit into your funding priorities, and how would you, as a legislator, address them?

• National Board Certification Program Stipend/National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT)

NBCT provides increased levels of accountability and insures that students experience learning opportunities from excellent educators. Incentivizing teachers to achieve this status has been successful in keeping quality teachers in our classrooms. As a legislator, I will support the incentive program and support its inclusion in educational funding when funding decisions are made. This is a high priority.

• Vocational Education

Vocational training must remain a part of our educational program in order to reduce drop-outs and to develop and train citizens who are able to work and contribute to society. As a legislator, I will support the vocational education and support its inclusion in educational funding when funding decisions are made. This is a high priority.

• Gifted Education

Gifted education provides the additional attention, education and development required to meet the needs of children who have advanced abilities. Moreover, students with advanced abilities positively affect the learning environment for all students. Thus, though affecting some directly, the program impacts everyone. The gifted program also keeps students in our public school systems who might otherwise seek educational opportunities elsewhere, when they have the option of doing so. As a legislator, I will support the gifted education program and support its inclusion in educational funding when funding decisions are made. This is a high priority.

• Special Education

Special education must remain a part of our educational program and funded at the level that insures effectiveness. As a legislator, I will support the special education and support its inclusion in educational funding when funding decisions are made. This is a high priority.

• Education Enhancement/Teacher Supply Fund (EEF)

As a spouse of a teacher, I understand the impact EEF has. Teachers will continue to spend much more out of their own pockets - but, though not substantial, it is still needed. It allows teachers to get additional resources they specifically choose and need in order for them to better educate their students. As a legislator, I will support the inclusion of teacher supply funds when funding decisions are made. Though not a high priority, it is important and a priority.

• Teacher Salaries

We must protect our competitiveness in attracting qualified teachers. We also need to retain the ones we have. Our teachers experience costs of living increases, costs for maintaining their credentials (CEUs), out-of pocket expenses on teaching supplies, and long hours on "school work" at home. As a legislator, I will support efforts to make sure teacher salaries are competitive and support appropriate compensation in educational funding when funding decisions are made. This is a high priority.

• Chickasaw Cession Payments

This means of maintaining a level of "fairness in funding," should be maintained. Since other means of addressing differences would be necessary without these payments, I will support this funding when education related funding decisions are made. This is a priority.

• The Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)

PERS needs to be maintained and protected. As a legislator, I will support efforts to make sure it remains in place as vital to those who devote years to, and spend their careers in, public service. This is a high priority.

How can Mississippi get creative to ensure sufficient revenue to fully fund education and other vital state services?

We need to grow our economy, protect businesses and jobs, and take no action as a legislature to deter Mississippians from investing in our communities, growing their businesses, or securing and maintain jobs. Doing so will enhance a return of a healthy economy, which will generate the revenue required to fund education at the priority level.

In Mississippi, some local school superintendents are elected rather than being appointed by their boards. Would you support or oppose a phase-out of elected superintendents, moving to appointment as incumbent elected superintendents retire or leave their positions?

I believe that all superintendents should be appointed. I would support a phase-out initiative for elected superintendents.

What would you do to address Mississippi’s teacher shortage?

Though care must be paid to quality, ability and accountability, the alternate route program seems to assist with gaps; though I am concerned over the percentage of our current teachers with licenses through the alternative route. Pay and benefits, serve as a level of incentive. As a society, I believe there are things we can do to elevate the image of, and place a higher value on, teaching and its essential need in our society.

What steps should be taken to improve the quality of teaching in Mississippi?

Proper, appropriate and affective assessment and evaluation must be applied. Providing quality, professional development (actually helpful, age-appropriate and subject- matter specific) is needed. Also, teachers who have been assessed and evaluated as affective teachers need to be left alone and allowed to teach! Finally, more should be done by state legislatures and State Department of Education to collectively address the one-size-fits-all mandates and regulations being handed down from Washington - many of which, negatively affects the time and attention our teachers are actively engaged in teaching

What steps should be taken to improve the overall quality of Mississippi school leaders?

We can begin by asking that some appropriate level of measured accountability is in place.

Would you support state funding for a statewide non-compulsory early childhood education program? If yes, what is your plan for getting state funding for early education? If no, why are you opposed to state funding for early education?

Early childhood education is essential. Our problems with literacy and basic educational development can be mitigated by childhood education. At this point, I am supportive of a state-supportive initiative that seeks to attract private or alternative funding to support and spread state-approved programs to areas where parents are not providing , for whatever reason, the attention, education and development young children need.