Education in Focus: A Moral Imperative

This week, we launched “Education in Focus” on Whitehouse.gov to shine a spotlight on what we are doing across the administration to improve our education system. And what a week it was:

• You joined Alma and Colin Powell, the President and myself in launching GradNation, an initiative to give more students the opportunity to go to college.
• You learned about the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge, which gives schools the opportunity to have the President speak at their graduation.
• You engaged in a live web chat with Melody Barnes and me about how the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) can help students like you go to college.
• You heard from Dr. Jill Biden about the importance of community colleges. 
• You read about Secretary LaHood’s experience as a teacher and his involvement in Teach For America Week.
• You joined our web discussion around the question: What does a 21st century education mean to you?
• You read along with the First Lady as she commemorated Dr. Seuss’ birthday by reading “The Cat in the Hat” aloud at the Library of Congress.
• You learned about the Education Department’s Investment in Innovation as they launched their Open Innovation portal.

Though this feature comes to a close today, our work is not done. The urgency to improve our children’s schools has never been greater.

Whether you’re still a student or your days in the classroom have long been over, we all have a moral and economic imperative that requires us to act.  Go to www.ed.gov to learn more about what we are doing, and ways you can get involved.

Arne Duncan is Secretary of Education