Education secretary’s legacy questioned

Video: Education secretary unveils school aid program

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   >> speaking of schoolchildren. here with us now, the education secretary arne duncan . he's live from the white house to talk about the top fund, which rewards states that have raised students' performance. we want to hear about that. after that, joe, i'm going to recruit him.

   >> good. we need recruiting.

   >> this is a huge opportunity. over $4 billion to invest in states and districts and nonprofits that are willing to challenge the status quo and get dramatically better results for students. we want higher quality schools. we want increased student achievement . we want more students going on to college. we want to close achievement gaps. we want to give more opportunities to students to learn and expand their skills. those folks with the courage and the capacity to get dramatically better and drive the country, lead the country where we need to go be with we want to put hundreds of millions of dollars behind those states and districts.

   >> mark halperin .

   >> mr. secretary, the money and the competition is a big part of this, i know. so, as the president said, in wisconsin last week when you traveled with him to madison, is demanding more from teachers. you've done a good job of keeping teachers' unions on board. how far are you willing to go now in this democratic administration in challenging teachers unions to change the rules about getting bad teachers out of our schools?

   >> we all have to work together to get dramatic outcomes for students. we're going to chaek teachers and parents and schools, and more importantly, challenge students themselves to take responsibility for their own education. the status quo is not good enough. we have a far too high dropout rate. we have to dramatically increase graduation rates. we have to make sure high school graduates are prepared for the world of college and for work. we all have to get better, challenge each other, step outside our comfort zones and work in a collaborative way to get better outcomes for students. we have to raise student achievement in this country. what we're doing now simply isn't good enough.

   >> maria bartiromo .

   >> mr. secretary, how will you do that specifically? the issue of autonomy comes up. when you look at a school system the way you look at a business. when you're the head of the company, you want to get the best players on the field. you want to get the best team to be running things. and yet the principals of today are handcuffed. they can't even put the teachers in place that they believe are going to be the best teachers. are you prepared to give the teachers that independence even though they're handcuffed by the unions?

   >> again, we all have to work together. when i was a ceo of public schools , the teachers have to pick the principals, and the principals have to pick the teachers, a mutual consent and all parties want to work together. we have to be willing to challenge the status quo . as you said, we want to get the best and brightest into communities that historically have been underserved. the hardest working teachers and principals into the communities they need the most talent. whether it's inner city or rural. we challenge the achievement gap . that's real, and we have to challenge that. i'm convinced, if we close the opportunity gap and give more students better opportunities, we'll see the achievement gap disappear very, very quickly.

   >> it seems to me listening to what you said, what you did in chicago, listening to the president and other democrats, and, of course, republicans, it seems like education reform may actually be an opportunity for bipartisanship in washington, d.c. talk about the timing of it. obviously, we've got a health care reform battle going on right now, we've got afghanistan. do you expect to get to significant health care reform in the obama administration next year?

   >> we hope so. as you said, education absolutely is the issue that all of us, regardless of politics, ideology, all of us have to come together. we have to better educate our way to a better economy. we have to give our students more. i think this is the civil rights issue of our generation. our students deserve a much higher quality education. and all of us have to come together to make sure students have the opportunity to fulfill their tremendous academic and social potential.

   >> all right. mr. secretary, speaking of coming together, i have an invitation for you.

   >> oh, really.

   >> fire away.

   >> here we go. we're going to new orleans next week. we're going to a school that needs help. that still has not recovered. not even close. from hurricane katrina . it's our brewing together day of service, and we are calling on our friends to help out, to help fix the school up and work our way across the country. it's not about talking about it, it's about doing it. will you come down and be on our show.

   >> he's got a busy schedule.

   >> i know. i need him there.

   >> i don't know about next week. i've been to new orleans a couple of times. i appreciate you so much going down there and stepping up. those students are extraordinary. they have been through things that i can't even begin to imagine. they're working hard. they're successful. whatever we can do collectively to give them a chance to continue to fulfill those dreams.

   >> those are great words. we need someone from the white house . we were thinking it might be you. it's next friday. high up to join us at this school and reinvigorate the area and let them not be forgotten.

   >> he's busy. maybe we can interview him, and he can talk to the school.

   >> maybe he can be on our show.

   >> i'll be happy to be on the show, and if i can't do it, i'll have one of my top senior management leaders come down and spend time with you and clean up the school.

   >> we'll start with president obama , perhaps michelle, who has got a great platform working against childhood obesity. valerie jarrett. i'll call valerie.

   >> she's out of control. she knows how to book a guest.

   >> we know how to get together and stop talking and inspire america to do so. thanks for being on the show. it's great to see you.

   >> i have a feeling, i'm sorry, mika's going to be calling you in a few minutes. we appreciate you. congratulations on what you're doing with the program. it sounds great. we look forward to having you back on as we look closer to reforming education.

   >> there's always more that can be done.

   >> good luck down in new orleans .

   >> thanks. we will see you there or somebody, i hope.

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