GOVERNOR’S CANDIDATES SPAR OVER EDUCATION

  

Gubernatorial candidates Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis presented starkly different views of the state of Texas schools Friday.

The Republican and Democratic nominees for governor were the keynote speakers at the joint convention in Dallas of the Texas Association of School Boards and Texas Association of School Administrators.

State Senator Davis criticized Attorney General Abbott for defending the 2011 Legislature's $5.4 billion in education funding cuts. Davis filibustered the budget bill and has sponsored legislation to restore about $3.4 billion to state education and reduce the number of standardized tests for Texas high school students.

By contrast, Abbott promised more resources for pre-K education, offering $1,500 per student to schools that adopt his proposed "gold standards."

Abbott's office is defending the state in a lawsuit brought by more than two-thirds of its school districts last year as a result of the reduced education budget in 2011. On Friday, his office formally notified the Texas Supreme Court that it's appealing a ruling that the state's school finance system is unconstitutional.

A public debate between Abbott and Davis can be heard Tuesday night at 8:00 on KWHI and www.kwhi.com.

A debate between Lieutenant Governor candidates Dan Patrick and Letitia Van de Putte can be heard Monday night at 7:00 on KWHI and www.kwhi.com.