The Republican and Democratic contenders to become Oklahoma's top education official both are endorsing pay raises for teachers and a reduction in the number of tests public school students must take every year.
Longtime educator and Democratic nominee John Cox and former Board of Education member and Tulsa Republican Joy Hofmeister squared off at a public forum Monday before more than 150 people, mostly students, at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
Both said they support a pay raise for Oklahoma teachers, who haven't received an increase in more than seven years. They also blasted Oklahoma's high-stakes third-grade reading tests.
The two candidates have participated in over one dozen similar forums this campaign season, saying it's important to allow voters to be fully informed on the state of Oklahoma's education.
The two candidates are seeking to replace Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi, who Hofmeister defeated in the June GOP primary. According to a recent poll conducted by SoonerPoll, Hofmeister leads Cox by less than one percentage point.
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