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Sarah Palin on Education
"My budget includes fully funding the 'K through 12' foundation formula. In addition, I've included more than $200 million in new dollars to cover the increased retirement costs for local school districts, so that more local school district dollars get into the classroom, where the money belongs. We're facing a potential $10 billion PERS/TRS retirement plan shortfall that affects local schools. Our $200 million dollar line item for school districts is part of the half BILLION dollar proposal to help th districts, local governments and the state alleviate the pension plan burden while we work with the Legislature on a long-term solution."
State of the State Address Jan 17, 2007
"We're asking lawmakers to pass a new K-12 funding plan this year. This is an investment that is needed to increase the base student allocation, district cost factors and intensive needs students. It includes $100 million in school construction and deferred maintenance. There is awesome potential to improve education and embrace choice for parents. This potential will prime Alaska to compete in a global economy. Beyond high school, we will boost job training and University options. We are proposing more than $10 million in new funding for apprenticeship programs, expansion of construction, engineering and health care degrees."
State of the State Address to the 25th Alaska Legislature Jan 15, 2008
"Stepping through 'the door' is about more than passing a standardized test. We need kids prepared to pass life's tests--like getting a job and valuing a strong work ethic. Our Three-year Education Plan invests more than a billion dollars each year. We must forward-fund education, letting schools plan ahead. We must stop pink-slipping teachers, and then struggle to recruit and retain them the next year."
State of the State Address to the 25th Alaska Legislature Jan 15, 2008
Governor Palin is committed to a budget that controls the growth of government, forces the state to live within its means, and encourages a healthy savings for the state's future. The Governor's budget includes funding to restore the longevity bonus program, a community revenue sharing program and fully funds the education foundation formula.
Governor's office press release, "100th Day in Office" Mar 13, 2007
"My administration will support existing programs that already offer alternative school options available throughout the state, including charter schools, rural boarding schools, home school options, correspondence schools, and vocational/technical, and magnet schools."
Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006
"Choice in public education is a relatively new idea, but is already widely implemented. We see from our experience that innovation such as charter schools, homeschools, correspondence, Montessorri, and various other alternative schools have a broad appeal to parents, students, teachers and administrators. There is still room to grow our choices to serve more families. I support and respect the rights of independent homeschoolers and those who partner with local and state-wide school districts. There must be equity in treatment of all homeschoolers in all programs across the state. The use of privately-purchased, faith-based materials should not be a reason for withholding funding. "
"Q: Do you support parental choice in the spending of state educational dollars? A: Within Alaska law, I support parents deciding what is the best education venue for their child."
"Q: Would you support amending the state constitution to allow private school vouchers? A: My priorities are to support options for education as allowable within the current funding formula--including home schools, charter schools and vocational training. This doesn't require amending the constitution. "
Anchorage Daily News: 2006 gubernatorial candidate profile Oct 22, 2006
Q: Do you believe evolution should be taught as an accepted scientific principle or as one of several theories? A: I think it should be taught as an accepted principle...
In an interview, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms: "I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum." She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state's required curriculum. "I won't have religion as a litmus test, or anybody's personal opinion on evolution or creationism," Palin said.
She has supported the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, alongside evolution.
New York Times, pp. A1 & A10, "An Outsider Who Charms" Aug 29, 2008
Earlier this year, she told the Anchorage Daily News that schools should not fear teaching creationism alongside evolution. "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information.... Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as a daughter of a science teacher."
Boston Globe,
As governor of Alaska, McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin has proposed increasing her state's investment in Head Start.