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Duncan was appointed U.S. Secretary of Education by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2009.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/duncan.html |title=Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education - Biography |publisher=.ed.gov |date= |accessdate=2011-06-13}}</ref> One of Duncan's well-known initiatives as secretary has been a $4 billion [[Race to the Top]] competition. It asks states to vie for federal education dollars by submitting proposals that include reforms such as expanding [[charter schools]] and judging teachers partly on how well their students do on [[standardized tests]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/l-gates-on-a-his-college-tour.html | work=The Washington Post | title=Bill Gates's college tour}}</ref> Duncan sends his own children to public schools.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> In March 2011 Duncan said 82 percent of the nation’s public schools could be failing by next year under the standards of the No Child Left Behind law. The projection amounts to a startling spike from current data, which shows that 37 percent of schools are on track to miss targets set by the law. He said “Four out of five schools in America would not meet their goals under [No Child Left Behind] by next year,” Duncan said in his opening statement. “This is why we have to fix the law now. Nobody can support inaction and maintain the status quo.”<ref>{{cite web|last=Berman |first=Russell |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/148541-duncan-says-82-percent-of-schools-could-be-failing-under-no-child-left-behind |title=Duncan: Change Bush 'No Child' law |publisher=Thehill.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-13}}</ref>
Duncan was appointed U.S. Secretary of Education by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2009.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/duncan.html |title=Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education - Biography |publisher=.ed.gov |date= |accessdate=2011-06-13}}</ref> One of Duncan's well-known initiatives as secretary has been a $4 billion [[Race to the Top]] competition. It asks states to vie for federal education dollars by submitting proposals that include reforms such as expanding [[charter schools]] and judging teachers partly on how well their students do on [[standardized tests]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/l-gates-on-a-his-college-tour.html | work=The Washington Post | title=Bill Gates's college tour}}</ref> Duncan sends his own children to public schools.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> In March 2011 Duncan said 82 percent of the nation’s public schools could be failing by next year under the standards of the No Child Left Behind law. The projection amounts to a startling spike from current data, which shows that 37 percent of schools are on track to miss targets set by the law. He said “Four out of five schools in America would not meet their goals under [No Child Left Behind] by next year,” Duncan said in his opening statement. “This is why we have to fix the law now. Nobody can support inaction and maintain the status quo.”<ref>{{cite web|last=Berman |first=Russell |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/148541-duncan-says-82-percent-of-schools-could-be-failing-under-no-child-left-behind |title=Duncan: Change Bush 'No Child' law |publisher=Thehill.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-13}}</ref>


==Criticism from teachers' unions==
==Criticism==


Teachers' unions, such as the National Education Association, don't like the Obama Administration's embrace of charter schools, or the Race to the Top. The NEA gave the Race to the Top a vote of "no confidence," and invited critic [[Diane Ravitch]] to speak at their 2010 meeting.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303763404576420250835015590.html Teachers Could Defer Obama Support], by Stephanie Banchero, Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2011.</ref>
Teachers' unions, such as the National Education Association, don't like the Obama Administration's embrace of charter schools, or the Race to the Top. The NEA gave the Race to the Top a vote of "no confidence," and invited critic [[Diane Ravitch]] to speak at their 2010 meeting.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303763404576420250835015590.html Teachers Could Defer Obama Support], by Stephanie Banchero, Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2011.</ref>

In January 2012, an online petition began circulating demanding Duncan's removal from office and substantial changes to the Obama administration's education policy: http://dumpduncan.org.<ref>[http://www.laprogressive.com/education-reform/arne-duncan-2/ Teachers Demand Arne Duncan’s Removal], by Mark Naison, LA Progressive, January 29, 2012</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 14:53, 1 February 2012

Arne Duncan
9th United States Secretary of Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 21, 2009
PresidentBarack Obama
DeputyAnthony Miller
Preceded byMargaret Spellings
Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools
In office
June 26, 2001 – January 21, 2009
Appointed byRichard Daley
Preceded byPaul Vallas
Succeeded byRon Huberman
Personal details
Born (1964-11-06) November 6, 1964 (age 59)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Political partyDemocratic Party
Alma materHarvard University

Arne Duncan (born November 6, 1964) is an American education administrator and currently United States Secretary of Education. Duncan previously served as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools.

Early years and personal

Duncan was raised in Hyde Park, a Chicago neighborhood encompassing the University of Chicago. His father Starkey Duncan was a psychology professor at the university and his mother Susan Morton runs the Sue Duncan Children's Center, an after-school program primarily serving African-American youth in the nearby Kenwood neighborhood. While growing up, Duncan spent much of his free time at his mother's center tutoring or playing with students there. Some of his childhood friends were John W. Rogers, Jr., CEO of Ariel Capital Management (now Ariel Investments) and founder of the Ariel Community Academy, Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul, actor Michael Clarke Duncan, singer R. Kelly and award-winning martial artist Michelle Gordon.

Duncan after the 2012 State of the Union Address

Duncan attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools[1] and later Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. His senior thesis, for which he took a year's leave to do research in Kenwood, in inner-city Chicago, was entitled The values, aspirations and opportunities of the urban underclass.[2]

While at Harvard, Duncan co-captained the varsity basketball team and was named a first team Academic All-American.[1][3] From 1987 to 1991, Duncan played professional basketball, mostly in Australia, with teams including Melbourne's Eastside Spectres, of Australia's National Basketball League.[4]

While in Australia, Duncan met his future wife, now Karen Luann Duncan.[5] They live in Arlington, Virginia, and have a daughter and son who attend elementary school there.[6]

Education career

Duncan at 2009 Obama Home States Inauguration Ball

In 1992, childhood friend and investment banker John W. Rogers, Jr. appointed Duncan director of the Ariel Education Initiative, a program mentoring children at one of the city's worst-performing elementary schools and then assisting them as they proceeded further in the education system.[2] After the school closed in 1996, Duncan and Rogers were instrumental in re-opening it as a charter school, Ariel Community Academy.[7] In 1999, Duncan was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas.[8]

Chicago public schools CEO

Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Duncan to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools on June 26, 2001.[9] Opinions vary on Duncan's success as CEO; one prominent publication notes improved test scores and describes Duncan as a consensus builder,[10] while another finds the improvements largely a myth and is troubled by the closing of neighborhood schools and their replacement by charter schools, and what it describes as schools' militarization.[11]

Secretary of Education

Duncan was appointed U.S. Secretary of Education by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2009.[12] One of Duncan's well-known initiatives as secretary has been a $4 billion Race to the Top competition. It asks states to vie for federal education dollars by submitting proposals that include reforms such as expanding charter schools and judging teachers partly on how well their students do on standardized tests.[13] Duncan sends his own children to public schools.[12] In March 2011 Duncan said 82 percent of the nation’s public schools could be failing by next year under the standards of the No Child Left Behind law. The projection amounts to a startling spike from current data, which shows that 37 percent of schools are on track to miss targets set by the law. He said “Four out of five schools in America would not meet their goals under [No Child Left Behind] by next year,” Duncan said in his opening statement. “This is why we have to fix the law now. Nobody can support inaction and maintain the status quo.”[14]

Criticism

Teachers' unions, such as the National Education Association, don't like the Obama Administration's embrace of charter schools, or the Race to the Top. The NEA gave the Race to the Top a vote of "no confidence," and invited critic Diane Ravitch to speak at their 2010 meeting.[15]

In January 2012, an online petition began circulating demanding Duncan's removal from office and substantial changes to the Obama administration's education policy: http://dumpduncan.org.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b Williams, Carla D. (1984-01-10). "Blue Chip Stock". Thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  2. ^ a b "Will Obama's Choice Change Education in America? | Harvard Graduate School of Education". Gse.harvard.edu. 2010-08-17. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  3. ^ Sweet, Lynn (December 15, 2008). "Arne Duncan to be named Obama Education Secretary". Chicago Sun-Times.
  4. ^ "Former NBL star for White House team".
  5. ^ "Obama". Time. December 2, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  6. ^ "Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education - Biography". Ed.gov. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  7. ^ Young, Lauren (March 2002). "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood". SmartMoney. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  8. ^ "Deputy steps up to schools CEO". Crain's Chicago Business. July 2, 2001.
  9. ^ "Arne Duncan". Chicago Public Schools. 2008.
  10. ^ Kingsbury, Kathleen (December 16, 2008). "Will Arne Duncan Shake Up America's Schools?". Time. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  11. ^ Brown, Jitu. "Rethinking Schools Online". Rethinkingschools.org. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  12. ^ a b "Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education - Biography". .ed.gov. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  13. ^ "Bill Gates's college tour". The Washington Post.
  14. ^ Berman, Russell. "Duncan: Change Bush 'No Child' law". Thehill.com. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  15. ^ Teachers Could Defer Obama Support, by Stephanie Banchero, Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2011.
  16. ^ Teachers Demand Arne Duncan’s Removal, by Mark Naison, LA Progressive, January 29, 2012

Media related to Arne Duncan at Wikimedia Commons

Educational offices
Preceded by Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools
2001–2009 		Succeeded by
Political offices

Template:U.S. Secretary box

U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Secretary of Energy Order of Precedence of the United States
Secretary of Education 		Succeeded byas Secretary of Veterans Affairs
U.S. presidential line of succession
Preceded byas Secretary of Energy 16th in line
Secretary of Education 		Succeeded byas Secretary of Veterans Affairs

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