Kerry's campaign focuses on education reform

The Democratic nominee looks for endorsement from teachers.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrat John Kerry is giving teachers a promise he claims President Bush has left behind: to put as much money behind the nation's education reforms as allowed under law.
"No broken promises on funding, and no more empty rhetoric on reform," Kerry said in prepared remarks to the American Federation of Teachers. "As president, I will meet our responsibilities. We're going to get this done right because we know that empty rhetoric and empty promises lead to empty dreams, and we won't let that happen in our America."
Kerry was taking his message today to 3,000 delegates at the AFT convention, where he was also expected to pick up their endorsement.
Debate
He took on the topic dominating debate in education -- No Child Left Behind, the law that was Bush's first domestic priority and that won overwhelming support in 2001 from Congress, including Kerry.
Despite record spending by the Republican-led Congress, critics ranging from legislatures to educators say the law is underfunded by billions of dollars, in turn limiting schools' ability to improve.
Kerry has embraced the theme, saying he will fully fund the law, meaning the maximum amount authorized by Congress. That would cost an extra $27 billion alone based on his estimate of the current shortfall.
"We value education as the path to opportunity in America, and we value the teachers who dedicate their lives to giving our young people the best possible start in life," Kerry said.
The 1.3-million member AFT is composed primarily of public school teachers but also includes health care workers, college faculty and government workers from the local to federal level. The largest teachers union, the National Education Association, has already endorsed Kerry.