US Secretary of Education

Comments on stimulus funds and the risks for states that don't treat charter schools fairly.
6-2-09 

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Associated Press 5-28-09
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(AP)  Education Secretary Arne Duncan says states will hurt their chance to compete for millions of federal stimulus dollars if they fail to embrace innovations like charter schools.

Duncan was responding to a question about Tennessee, where Democratic state lawmakers have blocked an effort to let more kids into charter schools. President Barack Obama wants to expand the number of charter schools.

Duncan told The Associated Press that such states would not be helping their chances to get stimulus money. He said the Obama administration wants to reward states that are willing to push a reform agenda with as much as $100 million dollars each. States that don't have the political will, he said, will lose out.

 

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"Under the law passed by Congress, the top priority for these dollars is to do right by our schools and our kids. If states play games with these funds, the second round of stabilization funds could be in jeopardy and they could eliminate their state from competitive grant money. This money must be spent in the best interests of children," Duncan said.

 

Indystar 5-22-09
By Matthew Tully
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Arne Duncan, the nation's energetic new schools chief, seems as puzzled as many Hoosiers by misguided efforts to cap the growth of charter schools in Indiana.

"The president and I have been very clear that having arbitrary caps on charters doesn't make sense,"

 

Chicago Tribune 4-19-09
By John McCormick and Monique Garcia | Tribune reporters
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During a visit home Tuesday, Education Secretary Arne Duncan warned his home state of Illinois is at risk of losing its shot at a new pot of federal money if it fails to show the political will to fundamentally shake up the way schools are funded and operated.

"I would love to see Illinois compete, but Illinois has to change its behavior," Duncan told the Tribune editorial board.