Education funding is becoming a critical issue in the race for governor.

Republican candidate Bob McDonnell announced a plan Tuesday to cut administrative funding in schools in order to raise teacher salaries.

Currently, McDonnell says 61 percent of education dollars go to the classroom. He says he would increase that to 65 percent and that would bring teacher salaries up to the national average.

The plan would require the cooperation of local school boards.

McDonnell's opponent, Democrat Creigh Deeds, has written legislation that would require Virginia to pay teacher salaries no less than the national average.

Deeds also wants to increase spending on pre-kindergarten programs, especially those that serve low-income families.