Gov. Bill Richardson will be in San Diego tomorrow to accept the "America's Greatest Education Governor Award," but the Republican Party of New Mexico is already questioning the designation's merit.

Richardson plans to travel from Cape Cod, where he is currently vacationing with his wife, to San Diego to receive the award, according to a press release from his office. The award is being presented by the National Education Association at the organization's annual gathering.

In a statement sent out shortly after the press release from the governor's office, New Mexico GOP Chairman Harvey Yates Jr. pointed out the state ranks 48th in the nation for its graduation rate.

"Should Governor Richardson be awarded for this?" Yates said in the statement.

More than 10,000 teachers from across the country are expected to attend Friday's event. The NEA, the nation's union with more than 3 million members, is awarding Richardson for efforts to improve early childhood education, teacher compensation and student test scores.