Where the candidates stand on education issues

Here, at a glance, are the positions held by the four candidates for governor in Massachusetts on several education issues.

TENTH-GRADE MCAS TESTS

-- Kerry Healey (Republican): Gradually increase the score required to graduate. Currently, students need a 220 out of 280, which ranks as needing improvement.

-- Deval Patrick (Democrat): Keep MCAS as a graduation requirement, but wants additional assessments of student progress that measure educating the "whole child."

-- Christy Mihos (Independent): Eliminate passing the MCAS as a graduation requirement.

-- Grace Ross (Green-Rainbow Party): Eliminate passing the MCAS as a graduation requirement.

MERIT PAY FOR TEACHERS

-- Healey: Reward the best teachers. Pay teachers more for working in underperforming schools. Start teachers at a higher pay base if they pass an advanced test in math or science.

-- Patrick: Create financial awards for schools that demonstrate academic improvement and achievement. The money would be used at the discretion of the school community.

-- Mihos: Opposes merit pay for teachers. Wants to increase funding to districts.

-- Ross: Increase pay for all teachers and increase the number of teachers in the state.

CHARTER SCHOOLS

-- Healey: Lift the cap of 120 charter schools allowed in Massachusetts. Work to spread innovations in charter schools to mainstream public schools.

-- Patrick: Keep cap in place. Develop funding strategies that don't hurt school districts and investigate whether charter schools are using ideas that can be spread to district schools.

-- Mihos: Keep cap in place. Explore whether charter schools are creating innovation.

-- Ross: Keep cap in place. Change funding formula so charter schools don't take money away from districts. Work with parents to create similar environments in public schools.

DROP OUTS

-- Healey: Increase mandatory age for students to stay in school from 16 to 18. Expand alternative programs, such as the sobriety high schools, for students at risk of dropping out.

-- Patrick: Increase programs to prevent drop outs.

-- Mihos: Change how drop out rates are calculated to more accurately reflect how many students are leaving school. Increase services for at-risk students.

-- Ross: Change how drop out rates are calculated to more accurately reflect how many students are leaving school. Increase services for at-risk students.

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Source: Candidates' campaigns, interviews.