Governors Skirt Education Issues at Summer Meeting

Philadelphia

As the nation’s governors wrapped up their summer meeting today in Philadelphia amid this pivotal election year, education issues—including teacher quality and the federal No Child Left Behind Act—were drowned out by concerns over soaring energy prices and a weakening economy.

Yet even those worries intersected with education at the National Governors Association meeting July 11-14, which drew about half of the state’s chief executives.

Robert A. Malone, the chairman and president of major oil company BP America, Inc., reminded the governors during a Sunday session that high gas prices were forcing school districts to cut back on transportation costs by consolidating bus routes, and making more...