Comparing the Presidential Candidates: Education

Florida has spent much of the past decade debating the best way to improve its public schools. Parents, teachers and students have grappled each year with the high-stakes Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and then waited anxiously to find out their school grades. Meanwhile, in Tallahassee, groups have fought in the Legislature and in the Supreme Court about whether taxpayers should help pay for children to attend private schools.

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama take different approaches to reforming schools in Florida and other states. Tallahassee Bureau Chief Jim Saunders looks at the candidates' positions on issues in the third of a series appearing each Monday until the election.

Sen. John McCain

The Republican nominee supports expanding the use of school vouchers and charter schools.

He says parents should have more choices about where their children attend school and specifically calls for expanding a Washington, D.C., voucher program that serves low-income families.

McCain wants to offer bonuses to high-performing teachers who agree to work in troubled schools.

He also calls for more "alternative certification" -- which allows people with backgrounds in other fields to become teachers.

The Arizona senator also wants to use federal tax money to expand online courses for students.

QUOTE: "Education is the civil-rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school?" (Sept. 4 in St. Paul, Minn.)

Sen. Barack Obama

The Democratic nominee calls for overhauling the federal No Child Left Behind Act. He says the education-reform effort has not received adequate funding, and he wants to improve tests used to evaluate students.

Obama proposes new college scholarships for people who agree to teach at least four years in high-demand fields, such as math and science, or in places that need teachers. He also wants extra pay for teachers who take on responsibilities such as mentoring new teachers.

The Illinois senator supports charter schools, but wants states to improve accountability for the schools' performances. Obama opposes vouchers.

The Redskins were about to lose to a previously winless opponent, as Avery's 43-yard reception put the Rams within range for a game-winning kick in the final minute of regulation yesterday, silencing 90,376 fans at FedEx Field and snapping Washington's four-game winning streak. The Redskins had just scored a touchdown to take the lead, seemingly overcoming a flurry of turnovers and mistakes; but this, the final breakdown of a sloppy outing, negated that.

All eyes were on Torrence (who left the locker room without speaking to reporters), his mistake impossible to miss, though in reality he was one of several defenders -- in particular, rookie safeties Kareem Moore and Chris Horton -- who did poorly on the sequence. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache, who called more blitzes Sunday than he had all season, had the team in a dime package (six defensive backs), wanting Moore and Horton to attack quarterback Marc Bulger on this third-and-13 play from the St. Louis 41. They never came close to reaching him, the one-time Pro Bowl passer had too much time to deliver the football and Avery had ample opportunity to slip free of Torrence long enough to haul it in.

"The bottom line in our business is you either make a play, or you don't make a play," Blache said. "There's no half-pregnants; you're either pregnant or you're not. . . . We didn't make the play, and it's not just Leigh. Leigh should have had help. The ball should have had to come out sooner."

For the first time all season, Blache called an aggressive game in the mold of Gregg Williams, his predecessor, regularly bringing corners and safeties. Washington has lacked a strong pass rush and this game plan involved heavy pressure, particularly on third down, with the Rams' offensive line in flux (tackle Orlando Pace was hurt during the game), and the Redskins believing they could overload the edges and hurry Bulger. They registered two sacks and stifled St. Louis for much of the day, but got burned on this exchange, the Rams' only play over 15 yards.