Full support for public schools would be the best way people in this community and statewide could honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

That means the "base student cost" mandated by state law must be funded by the legislature.

As marches and special events are held in our community today, a gathering outside the Statehouse in Columbia this morning will mark King's birthday with a special emphasis on education.

Education First, a nonpartisan statewide volunteer group, will join the NAACP in marking King Day at the Dome. This diverse organization represents scores of organizations that are urging greater funding for South Carolina's public schools and additional funding for the poorer, rural schools.

Former Gov. Dick Riley, who led the state to a major new emphasis on public education headlined by the landmark Education Improvement Act of 1984, will be among the speakers.

Riley is a perfect spokesman for today's topic. When he speaks, everyone should listen. He is a man known for partnerships, not partisanship. Venerable political columnist David Broder called him one of the "most decent and honorable people in public life" when Riley served eight years as U.S. Secretary of Education.

Riley once noted that, "All categories of people -- working people, wealthy people, poor people, minorities, majorities, people on the street, people on Wall Street -- have education as a top priority."

Today, the grandfather of 10 still is trying to help others connect the dots between setting that priority and producing results. He is speaking around the state on behalf of full funding for the schools.

Gov. Mark Sanford's proposed budget claims to get the state much closer to where it should be in base student funding -- $2,290 per student. But a closer look at his budget shows that it would move around line items, creating the false illusion of increased spending. According to the state Department of Education, that would mean the end of some important safety, reading, remedial and educator training programs in districts that are forced to choose between maintaining those programs or retaining teachers.

South Carolina is playing catch up, and will for quite some time. King's birthday is a good time for new partnerships to be formed to focus on providing every child an equal opportunity for academic success.