Arne Duncan’s supporters praise his inner-city reforms, while others decry his lack of experience on higher education issues.
Education secretary-designate Arne Duncan is drawing praise for his ability to bridge gaps between competing K-12 factions, though his lack of experience in public higher education may require some on-the-job training, analysts say.
President-elect Obama selected Duncan, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, to take over the U.S. Education Department. In choosing Duncan, the president-elect is bringing in an inner-city chief who has closed low-performing schools and championed merit pay, winning kudos from reform- minded researchers. But teacher unions also praised the choice, noting Duncan’s support for major increases in federal investments.
“This could be the beginning of a promising new period for public education in this country,” said Dennis Van Roekel, National Education Association president. The union leader praised Duncan for telling Congress that the No Child Left Behind Act needs a doubling of federal funds within five years. NCLB is underfunded by $71 billion, the union says.
However, the Network of Teacher Activist Groups, a coalition of grassroots organizations, drew 4,000 signatures on an online petition opposing Duncan for promoting “privatized, corporatized and anti-democratic schools.”
Even Duncan’s ardent supporters say he likely will face a learning curve on federal higher education programs.
