GOP Hopefuls Favor Scaled-Back K-12 Federal Role

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, announces that he is endorsing Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at a town hall meeting in Manchester, N.H. The two squared off for the GOP candidacy in 2008 before Mr. McCain won the nomination. Mr. Romney has touted his record on K-12 education as Massachusetts governor.

—Chip Somodevilla/Getty

By Alyson Klein

Though education has played second fiddle so far to other domestic issues in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, the narrowing field includes GOP candidates with compatible views on scaling back the federal role in K-12, but big contrasts in policy specifics and experience.

President Barack Obama, meanwhile, is expected to put a strong emphasis on his own K-12 agenda and achievements—including such signature programs as the Race to the Top and a waiver plan for unpopular provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act—as his re-election effort gains steam.

A look at the education records of the GOP candidates illustrates some common themes, along with differences in...