George W. Bush

Accountability is an essential standard that must be met if we are going to help our children receive a quality education. I believe that any school that receives federal funds must measure student improvement to help close the achievement gap. Under my plan, if a child remains trapped in a persistently failing school that does not improve after three years, the federal funds will be given directly to the parents to make the best decision on how to educate their child, including mentoring, tutoring, or selecting another public, charter, or private school.

Under my plan, the federal government will no longer pay schools to cheat poor children. My plan will also provide bonus and incentive funds for schools that show consistent improvement.

I will increase funding for teacher training and recruiting by $400 million. Existing federal funds provided for professional development, class size reduction, and the Goals 2000 program will be combined with this new funding into a single, flexible $2.4 billion grant program.

This change will streamline certification, recruit and train teachers in their subject areas, and meet the specific needs for teachers each individual state has. In return, states will be required to establish a teacher accountability system, which could include such measures as assessment of teachers based on student results, differential pay, and subject-specific teacher testing. States will also be encouraged to help teachers master methods of instruction that have been shown to boost student achievement.

Al Gore

I know that greater investment without accountability is a waste of money, but accountability without investment is doomed to fail. My plan will hold teachers to high professional standards, making sure there is a qualified teacher in every classroom. The plan will require states to ensure that all teachers are certified and fully qualified and that all new middle and high school teachers pass a rigorous test of their proficiency and teaching skills before they set foot in the classroom.

My plan would also test new elementary school teachers' proficiency and their knowledge of reading strategies. My "Higher Standards/Higher Pay" initiative would require periodic peer reviews of licensed teachers and faster, more equitable ways to identify, improve, and where necessary, remove failing teachers.