As he packs up his office and readies for retirement, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is reflecting on his seven-year tenure. In an exit interview with the Washington Post, Duncan pointed to three areas in which he wishes he had done more.
Preschool
“We failed to get Congress to actually invest at scale in early childhood education, and the unmet need is stunning,” Duncan said.
The federal Head Start program provides education for children up to age five who come from impoverished families. Duncan would like to see the program expanded to include more low-income and middle-class families.
Duncan claimed that early childhood education had become a “total bipartisan issue,” with at least six Republican governors on board with it, a major increase over the last five to 10 years. Still, no Senate Republicans support expanding government spending on pre-K, and only a few House Republicans do.
Undocumented Students
“I was hopeful on this too and it failed: Financial aid for undocumented students,” Duncan said. “I meet all the time these amazing students who’ve worked hard, done great stuff and they’re looking at me, ‘What are you going to do to help me in college?’ I basically say ‘I’m so sorry, we’re crazy in this country, it just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.'”
Initially introduced as a bipartisan bill in 2001, the Dream Act would help undocumented students who meet specific criteria, like graduating from an American high school or admittance in an American university, eventually earn permanent residency status. The draft process included a six-year conditional period where students could apply for student loans and work study, but not Pell Grants.
Despite liberal support, the bill never passed even when Democrats had a supermajority in the Senate and a majority in the House. At least 18 states now have some version of the Dream Act where undocumented students can pay in-state tuition at public universities. Six of those states implemented the law during Obama’s presidency.
Gun Control
“The hardest is the gun control issue and the violence,” Duncan said. “We have nothing, zero, in terms of legislation passed to keep kids safe.”
Duncan cited the shooting at Sandy Hook as a motivator on this issue, saying it changed his life. He said he will continue working on the issue of keeping kids safe from gun violence, without suggesting what role he might take. Gun violence is a big issue in Chicago, where Duncan is returning when he retires.
When asked how he would grade his overall tenure as secretary of education, Duncan simply replied, “That’s for you guys to do.”
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
