Campaign 2008
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THE ISSUE: EDUCATION

John McCain Photo by AP

John McCain

  • Opposed to federal funding for meeting national standards.
  • Wants to hire veterans and retirees as teachers.
  • Supports merit-based pay for teachers.
  • Voted "yes" to say religious symbols and praying in public schools do not violate First Amendment, and voted "yes" on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer.
  • Favors parental choice of schools, including vouchers for private schools when approved by local officials, and right of parents to choose home schooling.
McCain's bio, campaign coverage
Barack Obama Photo by AP

Barack Obama

  • An overhaul of President Bush's No Child Left Behind law to better measure student progress, make room for non-core subjects like music and art and be less punitive toward failing schools.
  • A tax credit to pay up to $4,000 of college costs for students who perform 100 hours of community service a year. Obama would pay for his plan by ending corporate tax deducations for CEO pay and delaying NASA's moon and Mars missions.
  • Supports paying "master teachers" more money based on value they add to schools.
  • Opposed Supreme Court antisegregation ruling.
  • Supports raising the maximum Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,100.
  • An $18 billion plan that would encourage, but not mandate, universal pre-kindergarten.
  • Teacher pay raises tied to, although not based solely on, test scores.
Obama's bio, campaign coverage