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* 1. Candidate Name:

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* 2. Home Address, City, Zip:

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* 3. Home Phone:

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* 4. Personal Email:

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* 5. Campaign HQ Address, City, Zip:

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* 6. Campaign Phone:

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* 7. Campaign Email:

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* 8. Campaign Website:

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* 9. Legislative District:

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* 10. Party Affiliation:

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* 11. Name of Candidate Committee:

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* 12. Campaign Manager contact information:

EDUCATION FUNDING AND REGULATION: Michigan taxpayers fund a vast system of public educational programs for approximately 1.5 million students annually.  Most school districts and charter schools receive $7,000 or more, in a direct, per-student foundation allowance; with the total revenue from all sources (such as from "at-risk" funding and other "categoricals") being nearly $13,000 per student in some districts.

This substantial budget priority reflects our state's Constitutional vision established to educate our young people.

For each of the following questions, please check "Yes" or "No", or other appropriate box, and feel free to provide additional commentary as desired in the margins or at the survey's end.

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* 13. Do you support investing School Aid Funds in the following?

  Yes/No
Pre-Kindergarten
K-12 Schools
Community Colleges
Higher Education (Universities) 

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* 14. Currently there are over 100 different foundation allowances for the K-12 students in Michigan, ranging from $7,391 to $8,169 per pupil.  Do you support a uniform foundation allowance for basic educational needs for every K-12 student in Michigan, regardless of their district, educational delivery method, school grade configuration or geography? (NOTE: Additional state funding for special needs would be available.)

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* 15. PA 436 is the Emergency Manager Law that allows for state intervention of local governments and school districts that have failed academically and/or financially. Do you:

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* 16. Do you support the use of state funds to bail out a local school district that is in financial deficit? 

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* 17. Our school employees' pension system has long-term financial difficulties, which has been addressed in other systems by moving employees into defined contribution plans. Do you support moving all new teachers and school personnel into a defined contribution retirement system (401k)?

CHOICE IN EDUCATION AND CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
In Michigan, the cap on university authorized charter schools was eliminated, effective in 2015, under PA 277 of 2011.

For each of the following, please check "Yes" or "No", or other appropriate box, and feel free to provide additional commentary as desired in the margins or at the survey's end.

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* 18. Would you support efforts to change Michigan's Constitution to allow for public funds to be used by parents at any public or private school of their choosing for the education of their student? (Examples include Opportunity Scholarships, Vouchers, Education Savings Accounts)

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* 19. Would you support any additional school choice options such as:

  Support/Oppose
Cross-district Choices
Tuition Tax Credits
Online Learning Choices
A Pre-K - 12 Education Credit Card

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* 20. In 2011, the legislature removed the cap on the number of university-authorized charter public schools in Michigan. Would you ever support efforts to directly or indirectly restrict the number of charter public schools, or families' freedom to choose those schools, in Michigan? 

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* 21. Charter public schools are not allowed to levy a local millage for facilities, relying completely on their foundation allowance for all instructional and facilities costs.  Should local school districts that have vacant buildings be required to lease those buildings to other educational institutions? 

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* 22. Do you believe that parents should be allowed to send their student to any school of their choosing, and the school district should be required to accept that student, as long as there is space in the school?

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* 23. Would you support allowing local school districts the choice to start the school year prior to Labor Day, or move to a year-round calendar?

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: 
The state of Michigan spends approximately $14 billion on K-12 education annually.  Despite this spending level, statewide student achievement remains too low. Based on the latest statewide assessment, less than 50% of students in grades 3-8 are proficient in reading or math and only 20% of high school students are college and career ready. 

For each of the following, please check "Yes" or "No", or other appropriate box, and feel free to provide additional commentary as desired in the margins or at the survey's end.

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* 24. Do you support a transparent and easy to understand A-F letter grade accountability system for all public school buildings that is based on student proficiency and growth?

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* 25. Currently there are 50,000 third grade students in Michigan public schools that cannot read at grade level.  Do you support the legislative efforts to make early literacy a genuine priority and to retain third graders who are not reading at grade level?

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* 26. Current law requires charter public schools close if they fail to meet performance standards. Do you support legislation requiring every public school to meet a certain level of academic performance standards or face the possibility of being closed?

GENERAL GOVERNMENT: 
Government, at all levels, should be open, accountable and transparent to voters and taxpayers. 

For each of the following, please check "Yes" or "No", or other appropriate box, and feel free to provide additional commentary as desired in the margins or at the survey's end. 

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* 27. Do you support the ability for taxpayer(s) to put on the ballot a repeal of any millage utilizing the citizen petition process?

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* 28. There has been a lot of discussion lately on PA 269 of 2015, more commonly known as SB 571.  Do you believe local governments and school districts should be required to have a campaign account that uses private funds, not taxpayer dollars, to advocate for or educate about a local ballot question?

PERSONAL AND CAMPAIGN:
Elections are always a competitive process.  Factors that impact winning include hard work, personal story, intensity and timing. 

For each of the following, please check "Yes" or "No", or other appropriate box, and feel free to provide additional commentary as desired in the margins or at the survey's end. 

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* 29. If you have  children, what K-12 school do/did they attend?

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* 30. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or placed on diversions for a felony?

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* 31. Is there anything in your background that, if publicized, could embarrass you or GLEP?

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* 32. In your campaign, how many hours per week do you plan direct candidate door-to-door? And how many months do you expect to maintain this average, prior to the August Primary?  November General?

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* 33. In planning your campaign budget, how much do you expect to raise prior to the August Primary Election?

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* 34. In planning your campaign budget, how much do you expect to raise in the period between the August Primary Election and the November General Election?

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* 35. In planning your campaign, which organizations do you expect to earn their endorsement or support?

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* 36. By filling out this questionnaire, you attest that you are the candidate running for office and that you agree with every answer given.   Please put your name below. 

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* 37. Please provide any additional information about your candidacy in the space below.  You may also use this section to expand on any answers from above.  Completed questionnaires are due by April 15th, 2016.  

Please note, candidates will not be considered for an endorsement or support without a completed questionnaire received by GLEP.  GLEP maintains responses as part of its internal campaign evaluation process.  However, GLEP reserves the right to share responses with its members and the public.  After evaluating questionnaire responses, GLEP will communicate further with candidates and campaigns of interest.  Thank you for your consideration in completing and returning the GLEP candidate questionnaire. 

Paid for by the Great Lakes Education Project with regulated funds ~ PO Box 27503 ~ Lansing, MI 48909

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