NC Superintendent of Public Instruction
Prepared by AAUW, Brevard, NC Branch
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NC Superintendent of Public Instruction Prepared by AAUW, Brevard, NC Branch You may scroll down to begin viewing the
information provided by the candidates in this race,
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NC Superintendent of Public Instruction
Race, 2004
Information provided by Candidates
to AAUW, Brevard Branch
Candidates:
Democrat:
June
S Atkinson
Democrat: Marshall
Stewart
Republican: Bill
Fletcher
NR, indicating
No Response to a particular question, will appear until a response is received.
….#, indicates that the response exceeded the 50 word limit.
What are your strongest qualifications for this position?
Atkinson (D): My combined experience of being in the classroom and helping to run the State Department of Public Instruction during the past 30 years makes me the strongest candidate. I have provided consultation to teachers and administrators in every school district. I have worked closely with state policy makers and business people.
Stewart (D): I offer leadership and experience. My leadership skills will enable me to unite people around a common vision, challenge the status quo and make difficult decisions. My lifetime of North Carolina public school experience as a student, teacher, parent, advocate and leader will keep me from losing touch with reality.
Fletcher (R):
Results. I helped lead my school district to achieve new highs in
student achievement. Today more than 91% of all children in grades
3 thru 8 read and do math at or above grade level. I want to lead
that quality improvement statewide.
| Education: The
funding of education programs that are required by state and federal
governments is a major concern of educators at the local level. Local
school districts are often asked to carry out state or federal mandates
without additional funds to do so.
Do you support or oppose allocating more state funds to carry out mandates in the areas of: |
(D) |
(D) |
(R) |
| Special education |
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| Diabetes care plans |
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| Four-year educational plans for high school students |
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| Reporting and testing requirements |
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Please comment
on any or all of your above answers.
Atkinson
(D): All state and federal mandates
should come with adequate appropriations to carry out each of the provisions
in the areas listed.
Stewart (D): I will not support any future mandates that do not have funds attached. I will favor rolling back existing requirements to relieve the local levels of mandates that are not fully funded with priority given to four-year plans and testing. If we don't fund it, we shouldn't require it.
Fletcher (R):
Unfunded mandates are much broader than these four areas. We must
renew appreciation for the different financial roles of the state and county.
The state should fund instruction; the county, facilities. When we
reestablish that relationship, mandates and funding will emanate from the
same source.
| Education: No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is a significant federal initiative to improve public school education. However, it has been criticized for not providing sufficient funds to states to carry out its requirements. |
What is your opinion
of this federal initiative?
Atkinson (D):
All children should be educated. The goals of NCLB are noble.
Yet, there are many provisions that should be changed, such as "the all
or nothing" of determining adequate yearly progress, testing requirements,
and high school assessments. Funding should increase.
Stewart (D): Although the goals of NCLB are excellent, the funding and implementation are devastating. We must take an aggressive role in working to change this federal law to increase federal funding and to refine its implementation so that it does not destroy public education.
Fletcher (R):
Great objective; unrealistic implementation. Major changes needed:
1) measure and reward academic growth, not just performance. 2) All-or-nothing
standards are unfair and should be changed. 3) Conflicts between
IDEA and NCLB hurt children and their teachers. The state must challenge
our Congressional delegation to make changes.
| Education: Passed in 1995, the ABCs of Public Education is North Carolina's primary school reform program, designed to improve students' success in public schools. The program includes school Accountability , testing of Basic subjects, and local Control. |
How well is the ABC program in North Carolina working and where, if any, does it need improvement?
Atkinson (D): Nationally, North Carolina has made more progress in education than any other state. A major reason has been the ABC program whereby curriculum and testing are aligned. Areas needing improvement include the high school end-of-course testing and exit exam requirements. Helping schools improve has been successful.
Stewart (D): The ABC Program has led to incredible improvements in student achievement by setting statewide goals and expectations. However, the ABC Program has gone too far in leading our state to the extreme in high stakes testing. Our state must reduce the number of days spent in standardized testing.
Fletcher (R): There are significant problems in the ABCs: 1) Parents want diagnostics. 2) Curriculum in not aligned with NAEP. 3) Lack of sunshine. 4) Tests are long. 5) Writing test is still problematic. We must solve these concerns for the public to have confidence in our accountability model.
What is the most critical issue facing public school educators in North Carolina and how do you propose to address this issue?
Atkinson (D): A critical issue facing public educators is how to change high schools so that we can reduce our dropout rate. We must customize high schools, have smaller learning communities, and capitalize on student interests. We must also make sure that students can read well by the end of third grade.
Stewart (D): Teaching is noble profession and calling. However, we have allowed the respect for our great educators to decline. We must restore that respect by reducing class size, increasing salaries, improving facilities and working conditions, and making students and parents a part of the accountability model.
Fletcher (R): A lack of leadership and vision for the future of our schools and children. We must recreate a shared vision for excellence and renew belief in the intelligence and capability of our children. Working together to accomplish a worthy goal, we'll find the resources to help students soar.
Atkinson
(D): http://www.june4schools.com/
Fletcher (R):
http://www.billfletcher.com/