By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

For Amanda Schmelzer, mother of Lauren, 7, and Lindy, 5, vouchers are an important election issue.

Schmelzer drives her daughters 30 minutes every day from their home in Columbus, Kan., to Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in Joplin because she is afraid her gifted children would be lost in a public-education system that has a responsibility to teach every child regardless of his or her learning curve.

“I was concerned with them not being given the ability to reach their potential,” Schmelzer said.

But she also said that she and husband, Eric, struggle to pay for it.

Because of that, Schmelzer is in favor of vouchers, which would give her the option to take tax money to whatever school, public or private, she wants.

Barack Obama has expressed opposition to vouchers in the past, while John McCain supports them.

The candidates for president also have other differences, according to policies outlined on their respective Web sites.

Obama, the Democratic nominee, wants to reward experienced teachers with higher salaries if they mentor new teachers and those who work in underserved areas such as rural communities and inner cities. He also supports performance-based raises for outstanding classroom teachers.

In addition, Obama wants to create Teacher Service Scholarships to cover four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education.

McCain, the Republican candidate, is proposing moving as much as 60 percent of Title II funding to incentive bonuses for high-performing teachers to move to under-performing schools. He wants to devote an additional 5 percent of Title II funding to recruit teachers who graduate in the top 25 percent of their class.

Obama has proposed the American Opportunity Tax Credit to cover two-thirds of the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and to make community college tuition free for most students. He also wants to double funding for both federal after-school programs and charter school programs, and provide more funding for middle school programs aimed at reducing dropout rates.

McCain proposes giving Title I money to districts for tutoring programs aimed at getting struggling students to meet state standards. He also wants to send $500 million to build “virtual” schools and another $250 million to expand other online educational opportunities, including more Advanced Placement offerings for high school students to earn dual credit.