The first step to growing our economy is developing a well-educated work force. Pennsylvania 's future economic vitality is inseparable from our efforts to improve education today. I understand that the future of this state, and the future of our legislative district, relies so much on the early education of our children.

Without well-trained, well-educated workers already here, companies will take their facilities to the states that are educating their students, and we will be left behind. You want to create jobs? Teach the children and the jobs will come.

The quality of a student's education should NOT depend on his or her zip code. Pennsylvania is one of the only states in the nation that has the right to a good education written in its Constitution!

Article III, Section 14 says, “The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.”

My priority is to ensure that every student in this state is given the same educational opportunity.

Pennsylvanians want accountability for their education dollar. With quality early education, schools save money in later interventions, and children succeed. That's what accountability is all about -- spending money wisely and well.

Right now about 44 percent of Pennsylvania schoolchildren – more than two in five – cannot read nor do math at a level that meets the state standard of grade level proficiency.

I will work to increase our investment in early childhood education specifically and basic education in general.

I will fight for increased state and federal funding of our local schools, which has decreased due to corporate welfare and tax cuts for millionaires.

Larger class size means overworked teachers! This results in less time spent in one-on-one learning for our students, resulting in many students being left behind in school and in life. Think about what it takes to do your job to the best of your ability. Now, think about your job with double, even triple the workload, but no more time to get things done. Sound pretty bad? That's what our teachers are saddled with when class sizes grow out of control.

I am committed to smaller class sizes, full day Kindergarten and pre-school, so that all of our children have the chance to succeed.

Education also is the ultimate preventative for crime and drug use. Every dollar we invest in education today will save 7 dollars in future costs, including preventable special education costs, school dropouts, juvenile delinquency, and long-term welfare dependency.

Statistics overwhelmingly prove that those who receive a college education have a higher income. However, the cost of college education is rising far faster than the overall rate of inflation. This means that even families who put money away for college will come far short of covering this exorbitant cost.

It is a tremendous challenge for working families who want to send their kids to college to build a better life. The burden of affording college education is rapidly becoming a crisis in Pennsylvania and we must do more.

We can do better, and I will support legislation that rewards students who maintain at least a B average and attend college in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is experiencing a “brain drain”! Our best and brightest young people are leaving the state to find employment opportunities elsewhere.

I will seek to pass legislation that forgives a certain percentage of student loans for young people who stay and work in Pennsylvania. This program will more than pay for itself by helping to grow our economy, increase tax revenue and spread the overall tax burden.