Former President Barack Obama’s Education Secretary Arne Duncan flunked fellow Democrats for failing to run on improving schools — and ceding the education issue to Republicans.
“We’re adrift, it’s killing us politically, and it’s killing our kids,” Duncan said of Democrats during an interview with The 74 education news site.
“I’m deeply troubled by what’s happening to kids, and by what’s happening to us because we’ve lost any vision for education … Republicans were more popular on education in swing states. It’s inconceivable to me, but education was a losing issue for Democrats,” Duncan said, referring to the 2024 elections, in the withering critique.
Former President Barack Obama’s Education Secretary Arne Duncan criticized fellow Democrats for failing to promote the education agenda during the 2024 election. Louis-Paul Photo – stock.adobe.com He also said “bright spots” in educational improvement are coming from red or Republican-led states like Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, not from blue or Democratic-run states.
“To me, that’s an embarrassment. How is it possible that the states showing the most progress on student results are all red states? We should be deeply ashamed. I’m watching all of this and feeling like we’re lost,” Duncan said.
“We’ve lost any vision for education.”
He also said he’s baffled that Democratic governors haven’t opted into a federal tax credit scholarship program available to all students from low and moderate income households, whether enrolled public or private.
The federal program, pushed by the GOP, taking effect next January, would give breaks on donations for scholarships to students at private and public elementary and secondary schools located within their states. Eligibility for scholarships are limited to students whose family income is below 300% of their area’s median income.
Most Democratic governors, including New York’s Kathy Hochul, have yet to opt into the program.
Leaders of the teachers’ unions have criticized the program — claiming it will undermine public schools.
Duncan said in an interview with The 74 education news site, “I’m deeply troubled by what’s happening to kids, and by what’s happening to us because we’ve lost any vision for education.” TNS Duncan said the scholarship program is a “moral” issue.
“In every state, 90-plus percent of kids go to public schools, and they’re going to remain in public schools. This is a program to supplement what they get because we’re not giving them enough,” he said.
“I’m trying to give them longer days, Saturday school, summer school. Our dosage of education ain’t working because it’s insufficient for what they need to build a better life. Obviously, governors can and should put parameters on use so that organizations that discriminate against students or families can’t receive the money. It’s not that hard.”
He said the two leaders he worked for, Obama and former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, focused on improving education and school accountability, including backing charter schools and mayoral control.
Duncan was the Chicago school superintendent before Obama appointed him US education secretary.
He said he does not see an ambitious national agenda from Democrats to improve student learning.
“We have no goals. I can’t be more explicit about the fact that we don’t have an education agenda, and that is incredibly troubling to me. You can quote me on that,” Duncan said.
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Duncan currently helps run Chicago Cred, a gun violence prevention program in his hometown.
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, declined to comment.
Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’s office had no immediate comment.
