Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska: on Education

Supports $20 million needs-based aid for U. Alaska

We have no needs-based aid for Alaska students. Governor Murkowski tried to put $20 million in the budget for aid, but the Legislature rejected it. Let’s make our own University available to students who might otherwise go without higher education. Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006

Forward-fund K-12 schools to allow better planning

I support adequate and full funding for education, as well as for pupil transportation and municipal school debt reimbursements. There must be recognition for increases in costs for energy, utilities, insurance, and salaries. We cannot go back to the day of simply ignoring inflation. A centerpiece of my fiscal plan is to forward fund K-12. School districts will be able to do a better job of planning their budgets for upcoming years if they know in advance the level of funding they can expect from Juneau. Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006

Supports charter schools, home schools, & other alternatives

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. There are many successes out there that we can look to as models. My administration will support and expand existing programs that successfully offer new approaches to ensure an appropriate education for every child in Alaska. Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006

Target early education programs to at-risk groups

The State should target early education programs to specific at-risk groups that truly need them. These groups will benefit from access to high-quality programs currently out of their reach. We must find a way for these children to obtain a safe and positive environment in their early years. Today, social & economic pressures sometimes encourage both parents to return to work outside the home. My administration will publish useful educational material for parents about children in their early years. Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006

Alignment between parents, teachers, schools, & business

Alignment is the unity of purpose which brings parents, children, teachers, public administration and businesses together towards a common goal of quality education. Alignment towards the common goal is built upon the values of respect for one another, our unique cultures and traditions, and our individual personal values. Here is how Alignment fits together:

Parents understand the importance of their involvement with and their responsibility for their child’s education.
Children attend class ready to learn.
Teachers are allowed to teach without distraction.
Administrations sustain an environment where performance and options are valued.
Business will help define the outcomes needed for employment.
Parents are the first educators.
Teachers are responsible for providing a rich classroom environment.
Administration is responsible to their community for costs, safety, and choice.

Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006

Faith-based materials ok in homeschooling

Ideally, the purpose of administration is to ensure that our schools offer such choices to parents, students and teachers. 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.

Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006

ABC method: back to basics, plus patriotism & ethics

I believe we need to respect families and provide greater access to curricula and programs that teach ethics and character. The ABC method is a local program that depends strongly on these principles. ABC students have nightly homework, back to basics curriculum, patriotism, ethics and citizenship training. Programs such as ABC have core principles of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006

Supports parental choice for what is best for their children

Sarah Palin supports adequate funding for education and will work hard to provide more vocational and technical training to create good job opportunities for our youth.
Sarah Palin supports after school activities and guidance centers to give our youth hope and keep them off the streets.
Sarah supports parental choice so that parents can choose what is best for their children -- vocational training, a public school, charter school, private school or home schooling.

Source: Palin-Parnell campaign booklet: New Energy for Alaska Nov 3, 2006

The above quotations are from New Energy for Alaska Palin-Parnell gubernatorial race campaign booklet, November 2006. Click here for definitions & background information on Education. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Sarah Palin on Education.
*Candidates and political leaders on Education:*
*Incoming Obama Administration:* Pres.:Sen.Barack Obama V.P.:Sen.Joe Biden State:Hillary Clinton HHS:Tom Daschle Staff:Rahm Emanuel Treas.:Tim Geithner DoD:Robert Gates A.G.:Eric Holder DHS:Janet Napolitano DoC:Bill Richardson	*Outgoing Bush Administration:* Pres.:George Bush V.P.:Dick Cheney A.G.:John Ashcroft(2005) DEA:Asa Hutchinson(2005) USDA:Mike Johanns(2007) EPA:Mike Leavitt HUD:Mel Martinez(2003) State:Colin Powell(2005) State:Condoleezza Rice HHS:Tommy Thompson(2005)	*2008 Presidential contenders:* AIP: Frank McEnulty Constitution: Chuck Baldwin GOP: Sen.John McCain GOP VP: Gov.Sarah Palin Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney Independent: Ralph Nader Liberation: Gloria La Riva Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr NAIP: Amb.Alan Keyes Socialist: Brian Moore
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