Dole Vows More Money, Autonomy for Schools

Elizabeth Hanford Dole, breaking with the Republican presidential pack, called Wednesday for more federal education spending, coupled with greater autonomy for local schools.

In a speech at the Boston-area high school where she briefly taught, Dole offered a mix of proposals intended to increase parental involvement--by posting school test scores on the Internet, for example--while at the same time boosting Washington’s investment in public education.

“I will increase federal dollars to the classroom and reduce federal power,” Dole said in remarks delivered at Melrose High, where she was a student teacher during the 1959-60 academic year. “In exchange for flexibility, there will be a performance partnership requiring clearly stated, measurable goals in student achievement.”

Dole was vague, however, on precisely what those goals would be and how they would be measured--just as she was vague on most other details in a speech billed as her first major address on education.

While calling for increased federal spending, she cited no specific amount. “She believes that it should be a funding priority, as long as you have accountability and the money is being well spent,” said Chris Hawes, a spokeswoman for the Dole campaign.

Still, Dole’s support for increased spending was a notable departure from other GOP hopefuls, who generally favor a much smaller federal role in public education. Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the Republican front-runner, has called for schools to do more with existing funds--and held out the possibility that underperforming public schools could be stripped of federal dollars that could go to private schools.

Dole did not explicitly endorse such a “voucher” system. But a spokeswoman said the candidate would give each state the option of implementing such a program, allowing the use of public funds for private schools.

Dole was also vague on another proposal: a suggestion to beef up campus security by allowing drug testing and searches of lockers and backpacks, provided parents give their consent.

In California, school officials already have authority to conduct searches when there is “reasonable suspicion” of inappropriate activities--without obtaining parental consent.

Among specifics, Dole proposed:

* A $1,000-a-year tax credit for individuals who donate to educational foundations serving low-income children.

* Raising tax limits so that low- and middle-income parents could contribute up to $3,000 a year to tax-free accounts to pay for private school tuition and college education.

* Offering merit pay for teachers who boost student achievement and raising the standards of teacher education programs.