Source: Open Education

On Tuesday Barack Obama ended months of speculation by announcing Arne Duncan as his nominee for Secretary of Education. Duncan, 44, will bring seven year’s of experience as the chief executive of the Chicago Public School system, the third-largest school district in the nation.

Solid Reputation in Education
Experts agree that Duncan brings with him a solid reputation as a leader willing to confront the major issues facing public education. Duncan has a record of addressing teacher quality and inferior schools, having closed several deemed as poor performers within the city.

As the CEO of the Chicago system, Duncan created a panel that crafted curriculum-based assessments to guide teaching. He also increased spending on anti-violence prevention measures and implemented the basics of a program that allowed teachers to evaluate one another.

He has also spoken strongly in favor of the accountability aspects of the No Child Left Behind Act. He is on record as stating that lawmakers should “maintain the law’s high expectations and accountability” but the law should be dramatically reshaped so as “to give schools, districts, and states the maximum amount of flexibility possible.”

Some Criticisms Emerge

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