Visit the C-SPAN Mobile Site

Congress, Politics, Books
and American History

@cspan  
Congressional Chronicle

Education Secretary and Mayors Discuss Education Reform

Washington, DC
Friday, March 2, 2012

In a forum on education reform at the local level, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a discussion entitled, "Education Now: Cities at the Forefront of Reform.”

The mayors' superintendents, Dennis Walcott, John Deasy and Jean-Claude Brizard, also participated.

The discussion centered on early childhood education, afterschool programs, U.S. education competitiveness and higher education.

School districts in these three cities serve a total of nearly 2.5 million students. Statistics show that 77% of those students are poor and 88% are minorities.

Andrea Mitchell, host of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” moderated.

Updated: Friday, March 2, 2012 at 4:30pm (ET)

Related Events

Education Sec. Arne Duncan interviewed by Libby Quaid, AP and Michele McNeil, Education Week
Sunday, February 22, 2009     Washington, DC

Education Secretary Arne Duncan goes over the Obama Administration's top priorites for American schools. He is interviewed by Libby Quaid, Associated Press and Michele McNeil, Education Week, Federal Policy Reporter.

Sec. Duncan Defends FY2012 Education Budget
Wednesday, March 9, 2011     Washington, DC

An estimated 82 percent of U.S. schools could be labeled as "failing," said Education Secretary Arne Duncan, adding that the Bush-era No Child Left Behind Act is broken and in need of reform.

His comments came during a House Education Committee hearing on the department’s FY 2012 budget request.  The Obama administration has proposed a $94.3 billion budget for the department, of which $77.4 billion would be allotted for discretionary spending. 

Education Secretary Arne Duncan Remarks on FY 2011 Budget
Monday, February 1, 2010     Washington, DC

Following the release of the Obama Administration's full budget request to Congress, Education Secretary Arne Duncan made remarks on the FY 2011 budget request for his agency.

Secretary Arne Duncan, Dept. of Education
Sunday, August 21, 2011     Washington, DC

<p style="line-height: 12.75pt"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt">On <em><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'">Newsmakers</span></em>, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said he will release a proposal to update the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law next month. He said it is &ldquo;punitive&rdquo; in its current state and that schools need more &ldquo;flexibility&rdquo; and &ldquo;autonomy&rdquo; on how to educate children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 12.75pt"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt">Duncan announced earlier this month that he is allowing schools to apply for waivers to exempt them from repercussions for failing to meet student proficiency requirements, the central component of NCLB. The Bush-era policy was supposed to be renewed in 2007, but Congress has instead continued to pass one-year extensions of the law. Duncan said he hopes Congress improves and renews the law. </span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 12.75pt"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt">Even though he supports more leniency on proficiency standards, Duncan said teachers and schools should still be held accountable, but not all the weight should be placed on high-stakes testing. He said the &ldquo;waiver package&rdquo; will allow teachers to &ldquo;breathe a sigh of relief.&rdquo;</span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 12.75pt"> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt"><em><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt">Newsmakers</span></em><span style="font-family: 'Verdana', 'sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt"> airs Sunday at 10:00 am ET and again at 6:00 pm ET on C‑SPAN.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>

Pres. Obama Makes Remarks on Education
Tuesday, November 8, 2011     Philadelphia, PA

President Obama traveled to Philadelphia and spoke in nearby Yeardon about funding for education and the Head Start program.

Pres. Obama Delivers Barnard College Commencement Address
Monday, May 14, 2012     New York, NY

President Obama delivered the commencement address at Barnard College, a private women’s liberal arts college in New York City. 

President Obama Talks With High Schoolers About College Costs
Friday, May 4, 2012     Arlington, Virginia

Continuing his campaign for legislation that would prevent student loan interest rates from doubling in July, President Obama speaks to high school juniors and seniors and their parents.

House Votes to Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike
Friday, April 27, 2012     Washington, DC

In a 215-195 vote, the House voted to stop the rate increase and offset the cost with cuts to health care funding.

Senate Democrats Speak to Reporters About House Student Loan Interest Bill
Thursday, April 26, 2012     Washington, DC

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he is “disappointed” and opposes a House bill that would stop federal student loans interest rates from doubling in July.

Pres. Obama Makes Last Speech in Series on Student Loans
Wednesday, April 25, 2012     Washington, DC

President Obama visited the University of Iowa in Iowa City this afternoon.

Share This Event Via Social Media
Photo Gallery
C-SPAN General in Transit Ad - Green