Coalition Releases 2008 Legislative Election Questionnaire

On Tuesday, November 4, Idaho voters will determine the makeup of the Idaho Legislature and shape, to a large degree, the future of education policy for the next two years.  This election represents an opportunity for supporters of public charter schools to make their voices heard.  

While the Coalition does not endorse candidates, it is our mission to educate and inform our members and the public about where the candidates stand on issues.  In many key races, the candidates have varying views on issues critical to the future of school choice.  This candidate survey serves to highlight those differences so voters can make an informed choice.  We hope you find it helpful in casting an informed vote to improve education for children all across our great state.

We mailed the survey to all 172 candidates vying for the 105 seats in the Idaho Legislature.  Included were instructions on how to respond via our website, fax, or mail. Those candidates who did not respond are noted below.  There are many reasons why candidates may choose to not respond.  Candidates get many questionnaires from different groups.  Some choose to not respond to ANY questionnaires.  Some unopposed candidates may feel no pressure to respond.  Some may feel it is not to their advantage to respond depending on the group asking the questions.  We make no assumptions why candidates did not respond, but we urge you, as voters, to contact your candidates and ask them the questions yourself.

We hope you will take time to read the feedback we received and make an informed decision on election day. 

You can read the results on our web site . 

And, above all, please take time to vote on election day!

Briana LeClaire

WHAT WE ASKED THE CANDIDATES

Q1.  Do you support or oppose providing Idaho parents with public school options that offer different learning approaches to meet their child’s individual academic needs?

Q2.  Do you support or oppose public school options including traditional brick and mortar public schools, brick and mortar public charter schools, and virtual public charter schools for Idaho families?

Q3.  Do you agree or disagree that Idaho’s public charter schools are helping improve public education by offering new models and innovations for all public schools?

Q4.  Currently, there are over 10,500 students enrolled in Idaho’s 31 public charter schools, with an additional 6,000-plus students on waiting lists to attend these innovative schools of choice.  Idaho law caps the growth of public charter schools to SIX new schools per year.   Do you support or oppose removing the cap of SIX new public charter schools per year and no more than one new charter school per district per year?
        
Q5.    Unlike traditional public schools, public charter schools in Idaho do not receive local property tax revenues and do not have the authority to pass bonds and levies.  Instead, they must utilize the limited state dollars they are allocated along with creative financing to pay for school buildings and facilities.  Do you support or oppose providing local bonding authority to public charter schools to pay for facilities?

Q6.  Select ALL educational options you support:

Traditional Public School            
Public Charter School
Virtual Public Charter School        
Distance Education Charter School

Q7.  Do you agree or disagree that full time on-line, or “virtual” education is a viable, innovative learning approach that should be supported by Idaho policy-makers?  Comments?

Q8.  Please indicate your opinion of educational choice options in general, and public charter schools in particular.    

Q9.  Please provide any additional comments you may have: