NEW YORK

What she says:

* End the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind.

* Cut in half the minority dropout rate.

* Recruit and retain thousands more outstanding teachers and principals, especially in urban and rural areas.

* Expand early intervention mentoring programs to help 1 million at-risk youths aspire to college and job success.

* Double after-school programs to ensure that 2 million young people have a safe and stimulating place to go between 3 and 6 p.m.

What she has done:

* Helped enact legislation to recruit and retain teachers and principals in high-needs areas.

* Served on national boards for the Children's Defense Fund, the Child Care Action Campaign and the Children's Television Workshop.

* Promoted the Prescription for Reading Program, encouraging pediatricians to prescribe reading.

BARACK OBAMA

ILLINOIS

What he says:

* Reform No Child Left Behind, which starts by funding the law and improving assessments used to track student progress.

* Address the dropout crisis by funding schools' intervention strategies.

* Expand high-quality after-school opportunities.

* Support summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged students through partnerships between local schools and community organizations.

* Make math and science education a priority by recruiting math and science college graduates into the teaching profession.

What he has done:

* Helped create Illinois Early Learning Council.

* Introduced legislation to create teacher residency programs and increase support of summer learning opportunities.

* Sought to increase Pell grant funding.

JOHN McCAIN (ARIZONA): McCain is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.