NEA-Alaska Federal Candidate Questionnaire 

Candidate: Senator Lisa Murkowski

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?

Alaska needs flexibility from unduly burdensome federal regulations (AYP, highly qualified educators, supplemental service providers, etc) that do nothing to improve education: flexibility to effectively use test data, to support ….

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

I continue to make ESEA/NCLB funding a top priority, and have supported annual funding increases. Equally as important, Alaska needs flexibility on NCLB -- I continue to work for both.

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)

Yes

Explain: I support fully-funding IDEA. I supported proposals to reach the 40% funding goal through mandatory and discretionary appropriations during debate on reauthorization, and I have supported annual 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?

No

Explain: Appropriate accommodations should be made. AYP needs to be flexible so the efforts of special education students are not dishonored because they do not learn at the same rate.

OTHER FEDERAL ISSUES

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

A national education policy can be helpful in promoting our economic and social well-being, but Alaskan parents know their children’s needs best. I believe local control over schools must be ….

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: The Alaska Constitution prohibits public funds being spent on religious or private schools. I do not support a national policy that is contrary to the law and will of Alaskans.

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

Yes

Explain: I believe WEP and GPO should be repealed. I have co-sponsored legislation that will do so. These provisions discriminate against teachers and others making both retention and recruitment more difficult.

Return to candidate list

Note:  ... indicates the response has been truncated.