Education has been a core theme for Barack Obama, since his days as a candidate for the office of the Presidency. The administration has kept education as a front-and-center issue, driven in no small part by the passion and commitment of Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education and one of Obama's closest associates.
Hard to fit on a timeline are the gradual shifts in the education landscape: Increases in the percent of students graduating from high school (to 81%); a decline in the dropout rate (below 7%). There are more students in charter schools now (more than 2 million). American students' math and reading scores on international tests have stayed largely flat.
That said, here are few scrapbook moments from the past few years of education reform under Duncan.
For Further EdSurge Coverage:
Who is John King, and Will He Be Even More Controversial Than Arne?
What the White House Press Corp Didn’t Ask About Arne Duncan’s Resignation
Arne Duncan Is Stepping Down; John B. King Nominated as US Secretary of Education
