Deal, Barnes Push for Teacher Support

ATLANTA - Republican candidate for governor, Nathan Deal said Thursday that the state should allow teachers to decide when students take standardized tests. Both Democratic and Republican candidates are pushing hard for teachers' support this year.

The campaign for governor will go into full swing after Labor Day and education proposals are set to be a key factor in the race.

In a preview of his education platform to be released next week Deal said he would allow teachers to administer standardized testing early.

"Instead of making a child stay in a classroom for 150 hours, doing what's called, 'seat time',' we allow the teacher to say, 'I believe this child is ready to take the CRCT exam. At some point earlier in the year," Deal said.

The CRCT is a key measure of student's progress. The test has become a focal point of concern over the way it's been administered.

Deal said student readiness is the key to his proposal.

"If they can take it and they pass it, they can then move on to more advanced studies and they don't get bored. I think that has great advantages. Not only to the student, but also to the teacher and to the general classroom," Deal said.

Deal said he will also call for more extensive school programs to confront childhood obesity and he said his early testing idea would not send students on to a higher grade, but would lead to more advanced course work.

The campaign of Democratic nominee, Roy Barnes said Deal was late with his education plans.

A spokesperson said, "From day one, Roy's priority has been education. That's why over the past year, he's visited over 90 counties, listening to Georgia's educators and developing a comprehensive plan to make education work in Georgia again."

With huge spending cutbacks in recent years, education is a central issue in this governor's race. The candidates have been battling for teacher support.

Barnes has warned about the impact of school budget cuts.

"If we can't run a school system and a university system, then why do we exist as a state at all and I think that's what's happened here over the last few years," Barnes said.

Barnes was recently endorsed by a state teachers' group, the Georgia Association of Educators.