November 5th, 2009
On Monday, I was thrilled to host Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in Norwalk for a meeting with a diverse group of teachers, administrators, officials and reform advocates. I don't use the word "thrilled" lightly. One of my frustrations in Congress has been that the urgency of financial regulatory reform and the emergency measures taken to try to reverse this recession have backburnered the make-or break issue of our economic future: education. We are a very lucky country in terms of our natural resources, our hardworking people and our knack for business. But I am convinced that THE SINGLE most important competitive advantage we have is our innovative capacity. And that capacity is very much a function of how well we educate our people, from pre-school to post-graduate engineering school.
Secretary Duncan did not mince words. In terms of just about everything that matters: graduation rates, math and science scores, vocational education, we are behind our competitors and getting more so. In Bridgeport, a city I am proud to represent in Congress, less than half the kids who arrive at a high school graduate. That is neither morally nor economically acceptable. If you believe that a democracy depends on an engaged and educated citizenry, it may be an existential problem.
Fortunately, Secretary Duncan has both the drive and the resources to begin addressing it. The stimulus bill included billions of dollars to dampen the blow the economy would otherwise have dealt to schools. Secretary Duncan's Race to the Top initiative is sending resources to those school districts that commit to the changes that will improve achievement, and which demonstrate improvement. As he put it, Secretary Duncan will nurture success regardless of where and how it is achieved. Given the severity of the challenge, we should expect nothing less.
All the best,
Jim
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