The clock is ticking on one of Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal"s campaign promises.

"By June 30, 2011, Nathan Deal and a team of leaders will come up with possible improvements to better fund public education," the Deal campaign wrote in a policy paper in September.

On Tuesday, Deal announced that he will create a series of education advisory groups to assist him on education policy and financing. The governor said the five groups will consist of teachers, parents, principals, superintendents and local school board members. All five groups will have 13 members, with one team member from each of Georgia"s 13 congressional districts.

"The minds of our children are our greatest resource. I am hopeful that by partnering with those on the front lines, we can make better policy decisions for our educators and students,” Deal said Tuesday at the Georgia World Congress Center for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce"s Eggs and Issues breakfast.

The governor told reporters afterwards he would appoint another commission that will look at Georgia"s Quality Basic Education formula.

"That is purely from the funding side of public education,” Deal said, recognizing it was a campaign promise.

Deal"s announcement is a step toward meeting his self-imposed deadline of June 30. Because of that, we consider this a promise In The Works.