Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Addresses the Crowd

It is a “Perfect Storm for Reform” said Arne Duncan this morning as he addressed a packed crowd at the NSTA Meeting.  
 
He spoke of the $100B in stimulus money that he will insist is used to improve student outcomes.  He reminded the audience that our students now face steep international competition for jobs and we need an educational system that reflects this globalization.   He used a sports analogy of how the basketball team that stays longer and practices on weekends often finds they have stronger teams with sharper skills.  We know that International students are working long and hard to gain an competitive advantage.  
 
He also discussed the need for differential pay and the need to reward teachers and schools for excellence.
 
He closed the speech by stating we have an enormous opportunity to move education forward.  We have the support of the president, the congress and there are adequate funds.  It is up to us to find creative ways to push forward.

– Rita Ferrandino, CEO Science Companion