Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Duncan Poised to Be Most Powerful Ed Sec Ever

Tight with prez, Duncan holds keys to $5B in stimulus funds

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 10, 2009 7:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – Tight with President Obama and with $5 billion at his disposal, Arne Duncan may become the strongest education secretary in history, writes Nia-Malika Henderson for Politico. “Never ever have they had $5 billion to decide what to do in the education system,” says an education advocate. And it’s up to Duncan—a big believer in merit pay for teachers, data systems to track performance, and charter schools to try new strategies—to choose how to dispense that cash to states.

Obama and Duncan have recently taken action with “Race to the Top” funding, which, at $4.35 billion, is “one of the largest single investments in education reform in American history,” Henderson writes. Duncan was considered a “split-the-difference choice,” winning praise from both unions and “get-tough-on teacher reformers.” But some aren’t pleased with Obama and Duncan's direction, suggesting they're too focused on charter schools or lack a “comprehensive” reform plan.


President Barack Obama, right, gestures as he is introduced by student Matthew Austin, left, as Education Secretary Arne Duncan applauds at center, July 24, 2009.
President Barack Obama, right, gestures as he is introduced by student Matthew Austin, left, as Education Secretary Arne Duncan applauds at center, July 24, 2009.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Education Secretary Arne Duncan listens at right as President Barack Obama delivers remarks on education, Friday, July 24, 2009, at the Education Department in Washington.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan listens at right as President Barack Obama delivers remarks on education, Friday, July 24, 2009, at the Education Department in Washington.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
In this June 4, 2009 file photo, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, left, listens as Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle speaks at the Milwaukee Area Technical College, in Milwaukee.
In this June 4, 2009 file photo, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, left, listens as Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle speaks at the Milwaukee Area Technical College, in Milwaukee.   (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Ucantusethatname
Aug 11, 2009 8:15 AM CDT
"Merit pay for teachers, data systems to track performance, and charter schools to try new strategies." Great NEW strategies. Not. Same old stuff. Not an original thought in Duncan's head. Straight ahead with high-stakes testing, accountability, etc. A stairway to nowhere. There are a few bright minds in education, but they are never selected to serve as Secretary of Education. Playing basketball with Obamessiah should not be an important criterion for selecting the nation's educational leader. Another bad decision by an another inexperienced administrator.
Derni
Aug 10, 2009 12:40 PM CDT
Hopefully we will see major chnages in our industrial era education system which is so outdated.

More Newser Stories

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

House Panel Subpoenas White House Solyndra Docs

Another US-Backed Energy Company Goes Bankrupt

Obama's Next Target: Education Reform

'No Child Left Behind' Needs a Bipartisan Facelift


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne