Forty-four percent of parents say there is too much emphasis on standardized testing in public schools, while 12 percent say there's not enough and 42 percent say it’s about right, according to a national poll released today.

The 2008 PDK/Gallup poll also shows the percentage of parents who say there is too much dropped from 52 percent last year. Hmmm. Can that be right given all the FCAT mania?

In other findings:

• 46 percent  of respondents said they prefer Barack Obama on education issues, while 29 percent picked John McCain.
• 22 percent gave American schools an A or B, compared to 48 percent for European schools and 52 percent for Asian schools.
• 70 percent said teachers should be paid higher salaries to teach in schools that are in need of improvement.
• 44 percent said they favor allowing students to attend private school at public expense, while 50 percent were opposed.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter