NEA-Alaska Federal Candidate Questionnaire 

Candidate: Tony Knowles

Office: U.S. Senator

Candidate responses exceeding 30 words have been  truncated.

Elementary & Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind

The Elementary & Secondary Education Act, known as No Child Left Behind (ESEA/NCLB), has not worked well for Alaska’s schools and children.

1. What amendments will you make to ESEA/NCLB to make the law work for Alaska’s schools and children?

I believe we must reform NCLB to allow each state to create a responsible plan for standards, assessment and accountability that take into account each states unique characteristics.

2. What level of federal funding would you support to help schools meet the requirements for ESEA/NCLB?

The only level of funding I support is full funding. We should exchange 1,200 pages of federal micromanagement for a paragraph that allows states to create their own education plan.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

1. Will you support full funding for IDEA? (Full funding is defined as funding at the 40% of mandated costs level that was promised when the IDEA was first adopted by Congress in the 1970’s)

I support the reauthorization and full funding of IDEA. I am committed to fully funding IDEA and strongly supported recent efforts that called for mandatory annual increases in IDEA funding.

2. Do you believe that students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) should be held to the same academic standards as students who are not identified as special education students?

IEPs are created to meet the special needs of some students. It is unfair and unreasonable to hold those students to the same academic standards as non-special education students.

OTHER FEDERAL ISSUES

1. To what extent do you believe the federal government should be able to control education policies in Alaska?

We must take back control from the federal government and return it to the parents and teachers in Alaska. NCLB’s one-size-fits-all approach does not work in Alaska.

2. If you are elected to the U.S. (Senate/House) will you support bills or resolutions that provide public funds to private or religious schools?

No

Explain: I am opposed to using public funds for private or religious schools. I oppose all vouchers.

3. Will you support elimination of the Government Pension Offset/Windfall Elimination Provisions (GPO/WEP) of the Social Security law?

I believe these programs are penalties for public service. I am opposed to the GPO and WEP and will fight to repeal these provisions of the Social Security law.

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