League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 3, 2009 Election
	Jason A. Haap Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Cincinnati City School District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

I have taught high school for 13 years - in parochial, charter, and public schools. These experiences have given me versatile insights into diverse learning and administrative environments. In other words, I know some things about how to run schools, things I've learned in a practical and hands-on manner.

2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)

Common-sense solutions should be addressed squarely by the board, which is why I have centered my platform on simple solutions that work.

Consider my plan for "Proportional Cuts": if ever the district levies cuts against services for students, they should be reflected proportionally in the budgets of the high paid administrators who make such decisions. This is a simple solution that makes sense and protects kids.

That's why I also believe in "holding principals accountable," and for basing curricular decisions on peer-reviewed research. Such sensible solutions only require experience and vision, traits I bring to this race.

3. Would you support a "year around school" pilot program for grades K-5? Why would you support or oppose such a program? (100 word limit)

I have concerns about year-round-education (YRE). In California, researchers noticed the "multi-track" calendar led to segregation and achievement gaps (Teachers College Record, Apr 2005). A March 1992 study by Wake County Public Schools found "no significant differences between the achievement test scores of YRE students and a similar population of students at traditional schools."

What problem is YRE supposed to solve? Do we seek to improve student achievement? Basic instructional reforms should come before adding more of the same to the current calendar.

I support models like this, from the Coalition of Essential Schools: http://tinyurl.com/36v5nf

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 29, 2009 08:04
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