Topeka ? Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Shallenburger outlined his education proposals, including tougher high school graduation standards and changes for financing public schools.

Shallenburger, the state treasurer, issued a policy statement Tuesday saying the state should pay for a suitable education for every public school student, make sure more money gets into the classroom and give local school districts more flexibility in their programs.

In addition to the tougher graduation standards, his list of proposals included merit pay for principals and teachers and a new state Board of Regents center in southwest Kansas.

Shallenburger faces Senate President Dave Kerr, of Hutchinson, Wichita Mayor Bob Knight, and Dan Bloom, a former Eudora school superintendent, in the Aug. 6 Republican primary.

He is the first candidate to release a policy statement on education, though Kerr and Knight both have said they would protect public schools from cuts, even if it meant increasing taxes, as the Legislature did this year.

Bloom has proposed an increase in the state’s property tax levy for schools to help provide more money to school districts.

Shallenburger has said he would oppose efforts to increase taxes if elected governor.

His call for the state to finance a suitable education could be expensive. A study released in May said the state needs to provide $4,650 per pupil rather than the $3,890 it now provides at an additional cost of more than $380 million.