Corbett, Onorato, press conflicting school agendas

PETER JACKSON,
Associated Press Writer


PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Republican Tom Corbett promised Tuesday he would get right to work as governor to open the door to an array of taxpayer-financed alternatives for parents frustrated with the public schools, while Democratic rival Dan Onorato took a more cautious stance at a conference sponsored by advocates of "school choice."

As President Barack Obama spoke in another part of Philadelphia about the need to restore respect and kindness in American classrooms, the nearly 150 people gathered to hear the men who want to be Pennsylvania's next governor were just as interested in breaking away from the public-school establishment.

"Choice promotes competition, and competition gives parents choices to make decisions based on what's in the best interests of their child," said Corbett, who said developing a plan to shift tax dollars from public schools into charter schools, parochial schools and other private learning programs would be one of the first tasks he would tackle as governor.

Corbett, the state attorney general, also proposed assigning grades to schools — A through F — to make it simpler for parents to decide where to send their children.

"It's time for a new day in Pennsylvania," he said.

Onorato told the audience at the National Constitution Center he would support the establishment of "opportunity grants" to help low-income families whose children attend the worst schools afford a private education — a concept Corbett also favors.
Onorato, chief executive of Allegheny County, also called for updating rules governing charter schools to fix funding inequities and other problems, but he did not endorse full-blown school choice. He said any educational initiatives would have to be balanced against "proper funding of traditional public schools."

"I don't think there's anybody in this room that doesn't believe or recognize that there's a role for public education," he said.
Both candidates said they strongly support the state's Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which rewards businesses that underwrite scholarships for nonpublic schools.

In his campaign, Onorato has played largely to the educational establishment. He won the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state's largest teacher union, in March, two months before he won the four-way contest for the Democratic nomination.
School choice was not a major issue in the two-man GOP primary, but Corbett has become a vocal advocate of the cause in recent months.
Tuesday's conference was sponsored by the Students First political action committee. The PAC promotes taxpayer-financed alternatives to public schools.

Supporters of public education are fighting to preserve gains in funding accrued during eight years under Gov. Ed Rendell, while school choice advocates are pressing Harrisburg to loosen the purse strings to the billions of state dollars that are annually spent on public schools.
Students First funneled about $5 million into the gubernatorial campaign of state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams of Philadelphia. Williams moderated a panel discussion at the conference immediately before Corbett and Onorato took the stage.

In the four-way race for the Democratic nomination, Williams was able to advertise heavily on television thanks to financial support from a small group of wealthy donors who sought to advance the school-choice agenda. Williams finished third in the May 18 primary with 18 percent of the vote.

Rendell could not seek re-election because of term limits.