Both state and federal governments influence the quality of K-12 education offered in America's public schools. In fact, since the No Child Left Behind law passed Congress, the federal government is more closely connected to what goes on in classrooms than ever before.

So what has Gov. Sarah Palin's record been in education?

When she ran for governor in 2006, Sarah Palin sounded like she'd be tight -fisted with school funding. She said during the campaign that she'd "always assume some efficiencies can be made."

But far from trying to squeeze school budgets, Gov. Palin has instead pushed for significant state funding increases to districts across Alaska.

Of school policy matters -- such as how to improve our schools, and whether the No Child Left Behind act is the best approach for Alaska -- the most notable fact is that she has had little to say.

THE MONEY

Gov. Palin was convinced Alaska schools needed more money -- a lot more money. And especially rural schools.

She tried to get the Legislature to agree to add $141 million to school funding this year, and an additional $80 million in each of two subsequent years.

That would have brought annual state spending in schools to more than $1 billion and gone a long way toward making up for years of inadequate funding. Her plan would have allowed schools to deliver better education.

The amount she proposed included a big increase allocated to students with the most serious disabilities.

The Legislature didn't go along with an increase as large as Palin wanted. Instead of adding $200 per student, as she proposed, the Legislature only approved a per-student increase of $100. That was the amount recommended by a school funding task force.

But her support for a larger education budget helped make it happen.

Separately, Palin also pushed for, and secured, a modest increase to the Head Start program, which serves 3- to 5-year-old children. This program has been perennially under-funded.

QUIET ON POLICY

Beyond funding, the governor in her first two years has not been very active on educational issues facing Alaska.

Is the No Child Left Behind Act the best way to bring Alaska's far-flung, isolated districts up to par? How can Alaska stem the constant turnover of teachers in rural schools? What goals should the state have for education? We have heard little from the governor on these issues.

We happily note that the governor has not pushed her view, expressed in a public television debate during the 2006 campaign, that creationism should be taught alongside evolution in schools.

If Palin is elected vice president, she would come to the job with limited background in education issues, but a record of wanting to invest public money in better quality education.

BOTTOM LINE: Gov. Palin quickly grasped the need for more spending, but she has not spoken to other education issues.

Bailout

Don't let philosophy and labels get in the way of a solution

Alaska Rep. Don Young voted against the $700 billion bailout plan defeated in the U.S. House on Monday. Rep. Young gave two primary reasons for his vote: the outcry against a rescue for Wall Street greed and his resistance to what he called a "socialist program" of government control.

The vote was 228-205, with 95 Democrats joining 133 Republicans in opposition.

Stocks tumbled. The Dow lost 777 points, it's biggest loss since 2001.

Does Rep. Young have an alternative? He suggests that perhaps private capital could come to the rescue.

That's not going to happen, not on the scale need to restore confidence and credit to the U.S. financial system. One way or another, the government -- that's all of us as taxpayers -- needs to step in. There's too much at stake -- homes, retirements, the future. The bailout isn't about socialism. It's about economic survival.

We need to restore reason and healthy sideboards to our free market and credit systems. Right the ship, and then rewrite some rules. We need to ease that pain as much as possible while bringing housing and financial markets back to the realm of reality and responsibility.

Pragmatists need to rule the day now. Congress was right to tell President Bush and Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson to slow down and retreat from full panic mode. The $700 billion with unlimited authority and no accountability? DOA. Rep. Young and the rest of Congress was right about that, but that's not enough.

Congress will have to act sooner than later. Those angry e-mails and calls about Wall Street rapaciousness are heartfelt and ring true. It's the job of Congress to act before those angry calls turn into cries for help.

BOTTOM LINE: Don't let election-year politics and glib labels get in the way of a sound rescue of the financial system.

ADVERTISEMENT