Coming of Age the Department of Education

Abstract

The Duke University Education Leadership Summit in February 2002 provided an opportunity to view evolution of U.S. Department of Education through eyes of those who have served as secretaries of education. In this special section, five of participating secretaries reflect on chief issues of their respective tenures. THE SIGNING of Leave No Child Behind Act of 2001 by President George W. Bush on 8 January 2002 was a defining moment for -- and perhaps grandest achievement of -- U.S. Department of Education in its 29-year history. It signified a clear shift from department's early role as data keeper and dispenser of student-aid funds to its emergent role as leading education policy maker and reformer. This Kappan special section traces evolution of department through its leaders and their policies. The occasion for this special section was Duke University Education Leadership Summit, held in Durham, North Carolina, on 20 February 2002 and attended by current secretary of education and every living former secretary of education (though Shirley Hufstedler, first secretary, became ill immediately prior to meeting and could be there only in spirit and written text). The Education Leadership Summit celebrated 150th anniversary of training of teachers at Duke University. The secretaries engaged in three hours of lively debate, moderated by former governor of North Carolina, James Hunt, Jr. -- a noted education policy maker in his own right. The debate had Republicans sometimes sounding like Democrats (and vice versa); however, no clear consensus on education policy emerged, save for agreement on fact that department is playing a strong leadership role these days in shaping education of children at local level. As D. T. Stallings makes clear in his brief history of department, each of seven secretaries of education contributed to its current stature and influence in policy-making arena. Essays by five of six surviving secretaries (William Bennett chose not to contribute) describe for Kappan readers key issues during that secretary's tenure and lay out a vision for future of education. In concluding article of this special section, former Gov. Hunt weaves together major themes identified by secretaries and issues a call for further reform. THE LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND ACT The Leave No Child Behind Act, which reauthorizes Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, was in making for more than a year and has been called the most far-reaching reform of nation's public education system since creation of Department of Education in 1979.1 Passage of bill required heavy lobbying and bipartisan support that found Secretary Rod Paige and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) strange bedfellows. Had it not been eclipsed by terrorist attacks of September 11, passage of this bill would have represented most newsworthy event of President Bush's first year in office. The Leave No Child Behind Act increased education budget by 20% over that of previous year. The major goals of bill included closing achievement gap for disadvantaged students, improving teacher preparation and rewards, and instituting closely monitored accountability systems for students, teachers, and schools. For first time ever, states will be required to establish academic standards and to test students annually in grades 3 through 8. A LOOK BACKWARD The idea of a federal Department of Education had been around for a while, but it took a confluence of threats from detractors of public education to cause President Jimmy Carter to establish department as a Cabinet-level agency in 1979. He chose a noneducator and federal court judge, Shirley Hufstedler, to head new department. …