Dan Lips of the Heritage Foundation sounds surprisingly upbeat about Arne Duncan, CEO of Chicago Public Schools and Obama nominee for Secretary of Education, resuming federal intrusion into public education.
Mr. Duncan is known as one of a handful of innovative, reform-minded big city schools chiefs. How that will translate to the national level remains to be seen. Conservatives should be heartened that Mr. Duncan recognizes the need for local leadership and innovation. And that he supports amending federal policy to grant states greater flexibility and autonomy. Yet given his support for sharp federal spending increases, it is unclear how well the Secretary translates local lessons to the federal level. (Emphases added.)
The question we should be asking is: will Arne reduce the federal government’s role in public education? There is no evidence that he will. Any “flexibility and autonomy” for states will only occur within the context of some giant federal education program that will take more than it gives. Surely those at the Heritage Foundation know that.
