RALEIGH -- Gov. Bev Perdue continues her push to bring more money into North Carolina schools. Wednesday, she'll take her statewide tour to one of the Triangle's biggest technology companies. Perdue plans to address workers at Cisco Systems in RTP Wednesday.

While the governor is not running in the upcoming election, she does have a message she wants to get out. She feels the state must do more to invest in public education. She feels the answer is a three-quarter of a cent sales tax proposal, which would push money directly towards education.

Earlier this week, she told Republican lawmakers that the state can't afford any more cuts to education and that something needs to be done to recoup $255 million in expiring federal funds. She says student enrollment is higher than ever, while there are less teachers in schools.

"Reduce that severe impact on classrooms and on children and so this is the year that there has to be a plan," said Perdue.

Critics say North Carolinians can't afford her sales tax initiative.

"During a recession, you cannot impose taxes," said Bob Luebke, a policy analyst at the Civitas Institute. "It's a killer on recovery efforts and I think if we went in that direction, it would be very damaging."

According to the Department of Public Instruction, more than 900 teaching positions were reduced over the past year.