Obama's Education Nominee Arne Duncan Appeals to Reformers, Unions

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Education Nominee Appeals to Reformers, Unions
By Maria Glod
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 16, 2008; 12:11 PM

In seven years as chief executive of the Chicago school system, Arne Duncan earned a reputation as a leader who pushed for strong measures to improve schools but also reached out to the teachers union and the community. As President-elect Barack Obama's pick to be become the nation's next education secretary, he'll draw on that background to try and bridge the deep divides among education advocates, teachers unions and civil rights groups over how to fix America's schools.

"When it comes to school reform, Arne is the most hands-on of hands-on practitioners," Obama said in a televised news conference at a Chicago school this morning as he announced the nomination. The president-elect noted that Duncan had closed some "failing" schools and championed public charter schools despite controversy. "When faced with tough decisions, Arne doesn't blink," Obama said.

Under Duncan's leadership of the nation's third-largest school system, charter schools were expanded and a performance-pay plan was launched with the blessing of teachers. He supports a program to bring people into teaching who have little classroom experience but strong academic backgrounds. In 2006, he called on Congress to double funding for the No Child Left Behind law. With Duncan at the helm, Chicago's graduation rate has edged up and test scores have improved. More students are taking advanced classes.

Duncan's résumé appeals to those identify themselves as reformers and tend to support tough accountability, charter schools, performance-pay plans and other steps that shake up the status quo. But his calls for increased funding and willingness to partner with teachers also wins the approval of unions and school officials who think the federal government imposes too many sanctions without offering enough support....

Duncan, a Harvard University graduate, has close ties to Obama and has helped shape his education platform. During Obama's time in Illinois, the pair visited schools in Chicago but also bonded over pickup basketball....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/16/AR2008121600106_pf.html

[aquart]

1. Because charter schools have done so well?

And No Child Left Behind is so great?

on edit: I was just reminded that charters are a way to get around the unions. Saying that the teachers union people like this guy is just not true.