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GREENSBORO (AP) The Democratic candidates for governor debated for the first time Tuesday, trading charges on their education platforms and legislative records but generally pointing toward similar goals as North Carolina's next chief executive.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and state Treasurer Richard Moore, answering questions on the same stage at an educators' meeting in Greensboro, both said they were committed to reducing the dropout rate and preparing students for high-tech jobs.

The three Republican gubernatorial candidates also debated each other before the Democrats.

"The issue that is going to be before you and the rest of the voters in choosing the new governor is going to be who do you think has got the best shot to getting that done," Moore told more than 500 people attending the N.C. School Boards Association annual conference.

All five candidates said they were committed to improving the graduation rate, an issue that took on a sense of urgency this year after state education officials said only two-thirds of North Carolina ninth-graders earn a high-school diploma within four years.

Perdue tried to poke a hole in Moore's proposal to create a nonprofit to streamline construction and spending for school districts faced with at least $9.7 billion in combined future capital needs statewide.

She argued Moore's plan would create "a great big new bureaucracy in Raleigh" that would own school buildings in local districts. Moore countered that the proposed North Carolina Future School Partnership would only assist districts in accelerating the building process.

"That's not the way the plan works at all," Moore said.

Moore later went on the offensive, when Perdue highlighted her "college promise" program. Under that program, the state would ensure students they can attend college debt-free if they keep good grades, stay out of trouble and perform community service. With Gov. Mike Easley's support, the Legislature approved a somewhat similar program this year.

Moore alleged that while Perdue was state legislator and budget-writer she voted to raise tuition at University of North Carolina system schools by 29 percent.

After the debate, Perdue acknowledged she had approved tuition increases but said she had been committed to keeping rates low and using other money to improve higher education.

Salisbury attorney Bill Graham, former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and state Sen. Fred Smith sounded similar themes on several topics during the hourlong debate for GOP candidates.

Graham said he believes more focus should be placed on improving middle school achievement and expanding vocational education to reduce the dropout rate. Orr talked about improving teacher quality through professional development to keep educators from leaving the classroom.

Smith kept to his business background by saying children are customers of the education system and to stop spending money on programs that aren't working.

Murmurs spread through the audience of school board members and superintendents after Smith suggested children who are home schooled should be able to participate in extracurricular activities at local public schools.

Smith acknowledged later that many in the crowd weren't thrilled with the idea.

"My message stays the same," he said. "I'm not going to pander to any group."