Arne Duncan’s legacy – the top-down approach to education
cretary of Education Arne Duncan has been passionate about creating real change in education across America. As he leaves office, however, we must examine the efficacy of his reform initiatives.
With the inauguration of a new president just about 15 months away, educators at all levels need to be active participants in shaping the agenda for the next secretary of education, an exercise which must include assessment of the current administration’s policies and tactics with regard to curricula and teachers.
In two particular areas, Duncan reforms that have roiled K-12 schools also have significant impact on higher education: Common Core standards, and teacher quality. Should the next education secretary continue, amend or abandon these initiatives?
When Secretary Duncan first introduced the Common Core standards, I was delighted. As a college president, I am painfully aware that too many students arrive at my doorstep at Trinity in Washington woefully underprepared for the demands of critical reading, capable writing, and mathematical literacy that are the bedrock of collegiate success. The same students also often lack the framework of knowledge in History, Literature, Civics, Sciences and other subjects that are the platform for advanced learning.
As hard as the leaders and teachers in our local schools in the District of Columbia and the Maryland counties are working, results from the reform initiatives still seem years away from improving outcomes for senior high school students. So, at first, the idea of the Common Core standards seemed like a no brainer to me. Why not establish a stronger national framework for student knowledge and skills in K-12 so that we could rely on the high school diploma to Arne Duncan’s legacy - the top-down approach to education - The Hechinger Report:
