WASHINGTON (AP, posted Sept. 7, 2016) — THE ISSUE: Hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars are spent each year on the country's public schools. The U.S. has record-high graduation rates, 82 percent, but also stubborn achievement gaps and dismally lagging math and reading scores compared with other countries. And university degrees are leaving millions mired in debt. Few issues touch the lives of families like the state of education.

WHERE THEY STAND

Hillary Clinton has made the soaring costs of college her primary education focus. She has proposed free tuition at in-state public colleges and...