january 2014- final · education insider: 2014 gubernatorial elections, school choice, advice for...

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Education Insider: 2014 Gubernatorial Elections, School Choice, Advice for Aspiring Policy Leaders, and Duncan‐Starr

January 2014

www.whiteboardadvisors.com

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Why Education Insider?INTRODUCTION

The Value

We harness the wisdom of well‐connected influentials to provide insights and predict policy outcomes for stakeholders in the education debate.

Whiteboard Advisors is a policy‐oriented consulting practice. We provideproprietary research and strategic support to investors, philanthropicdonors, government leaders, and entrepreneurs who seek unparalleledunderstanding of the education policy and business environments.

Education Insider helps those who need quality information to make high‐stakes decisions about the direction of federal policy. Education Insidercombines the wisdom of informed crowds with expert analysis to offerunparalleled information, analysis, and forecasting on a range of federaleducation policy issues and likely outcomes.

Education Insider conducts an anonymous survey of a small group of keyeducation influentials (policymakers, thought leaders, and associationheads) to get their thoughts and commentary about the context of thecurrent debate and possible outcomes. This helps surface the underlyingdynamics that can affect the trajectory of policies, positively or negatively,and go deeper than the conventional wisdom and rhetoric.

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Why Education Insider?INTRODUCTION

The Process

Education Insider is a monthly report that cuts through the noise andprovides real‐time insights on national education policy trends, debates,and issues—from the handful of decision makers that are really driving theprocess. We combine a survey of key education influencers with our ownanalysis to provide a unique perspective on the current state of debate.

Who Are The Insiders?Influential leaders who are shaping federal education reform, includingindividuals who have or are currently serving as key policy and political“insiders,” such as:

• Current and former White House and U.S. Department of Educationleaders;

• Current and former Congressional staff;• State education leaders, including state school chiefs and formergovernors; and

• Leaders of major education organizations, think tanks and other keyinfluentials.

Survey Insiders

Analyze Results

Report Insights

Drive Action

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• Insiders’ ratings of “right track/wrong track” for the Common Core assessment consortia remain relatively consistent compared to November 2013, the last time this question was asked.

• As in recent months, the overwhelming majority of Insiders think that neither ESEA nor the Higher Education Act will be authorized until January 2015 or later.

• Insiders believe that the most important leadership skills to develop are collaboration and team building, risk taking, and decision making. When asked about technical skills, their top choices included content expertise, communications, and research, analysis, and evaluation.

• Insiders think that the Florida, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, and Georgia gubernatorial races are the most important races to follow for education.

• 69% of Insiders think that the school choice movement has gained momentum compared to five years ago. Looking ahead, 61% think the movement will continue to gain momentum over the next five years.

• 71% of Insiders think that the Florida gubernatorial race is the most important one to watch for education.

• 74% of Insiders were not surprised by Sec. Duncan’s role in advocating to then NYC Mayor‐elect Bill de Blasio not to choose Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr for NYC Chancellor. 69% said his involvement did not matter.

Executive SummaryINTRODUCTION

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Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION

5

TRACKING MEASURES 6

GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS 14

SCHOOL CHOICE 15

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING POLICY LEADERS 23

SECRETARY DUNCAN 31

Congressional Approval Dips Back Down; Administration Disapproval at Highest Rate Ever

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Question: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress/the Administration is handling education?

Job Approval on Education

10 5 6 18 14 6 0 0 8 4 12 5 4 12 12 8

14 12 15 7 4 15 7

90 95 94 82 86 94 100 100 92 96 88 95 96 88 88 92 86 88 85 93

96 85 93

7%

93%

Approve Disapprove

40 45 5935

57 50 52 45 50 46 50 50 48 46 46 38 3346

30 37 29 35 21

60 5541

6543 50 48 55 50 54 50 50 52 54 54 62 67

5470 63 72 65

79

21%

79%

Approve Disapprove

Congress

Administration

TRACKING MEASURES

Timing of ESEA ReauthorizationTRACKING MEASURES

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Question: About when do you believe a final ESEA bill will be signed into law?

7

Date of Insider Survey

12%

33%

10% 12% 18%8%

15%3% 8% 3%

0%

29%

5%

10%20%

18%

9%

10%

8% 4% 4%

8%

4%

24% 33%

35%

32%36%

33% 20%

29%25%

8%

19%10%

4%

11% 17%

7%

35%29%

40%32% 29%

50% 55%63%

71%

92%

77%87%

81% 85% 80%93%

100% 100%

Apr.'12

Jun.'12

July'12

Aug.'12

Sept.'12

Nov.'12

Dec.'12

Jan.'13

Feb.'13

Mar.'13

Apr.'13

May'13

Jun.'13

July'13

Sept.'13

Oct.'13

Nov.'13

Jan.'14

Timing of ESEA Reauthorization

By Dec. 2013 By Jun. 2014 By Dec. 2014 January 2015 or later

As in November, 100% of Insiders think that ESEA will not be reauthorized until January 2015 or later.

TRACKING MEASURES

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Insider Insight: ESEA Reauthorization Timing

Why?

• “It doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s agenda—and with Miller and Harkin leaving at this point it looks like it will fall to the new guard.”

• “Apart from the typically covered high‐profile policy/political stuff (accountability, testing, and the like), some folks on the Hill are beginning to understand that some of the basic underpinnings of the ESEA formula programs (i.e. how allocations work in practice, how hold harmless works in practice, how supplement not supplant works in practice) are incredibly outdated and can actually hurt the very students these programs are intended to help. Tackling that beast will take time because it is both complex and has a major impact. Of course, I am probably being way too optimistic that Congress will actually dive into the substance, but a person can hope!”

• “There is no will in the current Congress to find a compromise bill that can pass both houses.”

TRACKING MEASURES

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Insider Insight: ESEA Reauthorization Timing

Why?

• “It’s not a priority and there’s no incentive to do anything and get along in Congress.”

• “Never ever in my long‐legged life.”• “No incentive to do anything.”• “Reid won’t give the bill floor time and Harkin is distracted by shiny new

things instead of boring old responsibilities.”• “There’s no will to resolve the differences. Plus, the differences are just too

far apart.”• “Will we ever have a new ESEA bill? Odds seem greater that Robert Gates

will get invited to the next Obama alumni weekend.”• “‘Never’ should be an option as long as Harkin is still running HELP.”• “The Senate appears unlikely to do anything with its bill.”

Question: Are the assessment consortia on the right track or wrong track?

Are the assessment consortia on the right track or wrong track?

Common Core Assessments – Right Track or Wrong Track?TRACKING MEASURES

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69%62%

52% 55%48%

35% 30%22%

38%27% 27%

42%52% 48%

31%38%

49% 45%52%

65% 70%78%

63%73% 73%

58%48% 52%

Sept.'12

Nov.'12

Dec.'12

Jan.'13

Feb.'13

Mar.'13

Apr.'13

May'13

Jun.'13

July'13

Sept.'13

Oct.'13

Nov.'13

Jan.'14

PARCCRight Track Wrong Track

33% 33% 29% 27% 23%30% 33%

26%

54%62% 56% 54% 52% 50%

67% 67% 71% 73% 77%70% 67%

74%

46%38% 44% 46% 48% 50%

Sept.'12

Nov.'12

Dec.'12

Jan.'13

Feb.'13

Mar.'13

Apr.'13

May'13

Jun.'13

July'13

Sept.'13

Oct.'13

Nov.'13

Jan.'14

SBACRight Track Wrong Track

Why do you believe PARCC and SBAC are on the right or wrong track?

Right Track:• “Both are responding to the concerns in the field and more broadly, and seem more

aware that they are not sole options. Seems to have had a clarifying effect.”• “It is my understanding that both consortia are working hard to design assessments

that measure higher order skills. The current testing instruments are poorly designed and misaligned with the new standards.”

• “Some states are leaving, but that’s not surprising. Both have actual tests for field testing this spring.”

• “PARCC is at least solving a couple of its business problems by moving out of Florida to Maryland. Field tests are going to be difficult for both consortia, but will be conducted. Right track is a directional question. Now the problem is velocity.”

Insider Insight: Right Track / Wrong TrackTRACKING MEASURES

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Why do you believe PARCC and SBAC are on the right or wrong track?

Wrong track:• “If these consortia don’t reach out to the REAL stakeholders soon (parents and

ACTUAL teachers), in concrete and meaningful ways, the wheels are going to fall off even faster than they already are.”

• “Increasingly looking like a train wreck because of the gap between technology needs and what is in place.”

• “Assessments come spring 2015 will look more like 2005 than the hopes of 2010. Commonality is gone. Comparability too.”

• “PARRC is making the same mistake they made with the Algebra 2 test. They should not only be concerned about losing Florida but several others who have no intention of using their test (although they remain part of the consortia).”

• “Actually moving the tests into practice seems to have thrown both consortia off their games. This needs to be about far more than buying the right hardware.”

Insider Insight: Right Track / Wrong TrackTRACKING MEASURES

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Question: By about when do you believe a final Higher Education Act (HEA) bill will be signed into law?

Higher Education Act

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An increasingly large majority—now 89%—of Insiders think that HEA will not be reauthorized until January 2015 or later.

4%8%

4%

13%22% 28%

11%

75% 74% 72%

89%

March '13 Oct. '13 Nov. '13 Jan. '14

Timing of HEA Reauthorization By Dec. 2013 By June 2014 By Dec. 2014 Jan. 2015 or later

TRACKING MEASURES

Education Insiders on Key Gubernatorial Elections and EducationGUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS

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When asked to select the most important governors’ races to follow for education, Insiders overwhelmingly pick Florida, followed by New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Georgia.

Question: Which are the most important governors’ races to follow for education? PLEASE PICK FIVE.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

IdahoKansasMaine

Rhode IslandSouth Carolina

IllinoisNew MexicoConnecticutMarylandMinnesota

ArizonaCaliforniaColorado

MassachusettsTennesseeWisconsinGeorgia

MichiganOhio

PennsylvaniaTexas

New YorkFlorida

Races to Watch

Looking Back: School Choice Momentum Over the Last Five Years

69%

7%

24%

School choice momentum –Last five years

Gained momentum

Lost momentum

No change

SCHOOL CHOICE

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Most Insiders believe that the school choice movement—public school choice, public charter schools, and private school choice options—has gained momentum when compared to five years ago.

Question: When comparing now to 5 years ago, has the school choice movement‐‐public school choice, public charter schools, and private school choice options‐‐gained momentum, lost momentum, or had no change?

Comments

• “While it has gained momentum, it is at different speeds for the various issues listed above. Public charter schools have clearly gained significant momentum. I would argue that public school choice has lost momentum.”

• “Course choice is gaining momentum. Charters are still gaining momentum. What seemed radical 10 years ago is centrist policy today.”

• “The numbers are clear here. The options continue to grow; traditionally‐assigned schools continue to lose market share. Next serious metric should be number of very high quality schools regardless of sector.”

• “To some degree it has gained momentum as the teachers unions have had to relent post‐Waiting for Superman, but it has lost the reform element as do‐gooder Democrats feel the need to shape charter schools, etc. in the image they deem appropriate.”

• “[No change.] BUT, slowing down.”

Insider Insight: School Choice MovementSCHOOL CHOICE

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Comments

• “I think the answer to this question totally depends on how one frames ‘school choice.’ In general, I think many people are far more open to things like charters, inter‐ and intra‐district transfer options, and the like than they were a few years ago. On the other hand, for folks who like and trust their traditional public school systems, it can feel like choice is being thrust upon them by outsiders if parents are not at the table when choice options are discussed (and the inevitable impact that has on funding). In these cases, ‘choice’ can feel like an attack to communities in which schools are often a central defining part (this is true both for wealthy suburban and poor urban/rural systems). Add concerns over Common Core and testing to the mix, which often get conflated in the public sphere with ‘choice’ (even though that is not accurate), and I think choice—as a reform option—is in peril unless it is better explained to parents/taxpayers and they have a seat at the decision‐making table.”

• “It’s become less controversial in most areas of the country and a somewhat accepted approach. (Well, except for private school choice, but even that is gaining somewhat more acceptance in some areas.)”


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Comments

• “The fact that over one in 20 students attends a public charter school, and that number is much larger in urban areas, shows that school choice as an improvement strategy is gaining momentum.”

• “There is more choice available in more places than there was 5 years ago. I would add virtual and blended education to that mix of policies. But true choice on a large scale is still a long way off.”

• “Choice is expanding. Don’t mistake noise from interest groups and activists as real stoppage. They keep howling and states keep passing laws to expand choice.”

• “Charters have gained momentum; not sure about school choice in the context of privatization and vouchers which is going nowhere fast but lots of rhetoric.”

• “There is little clear program direction or federal rhetoric about choice. If there is forward movement, it is generated within a local or state context, such as Denver.”

• “It’s beginning to lose momentum. The rhetoric is getting nastier, the data is far less impressive, and the opposition has found its sweet spot in making this about privatizing and profiteering. This year, it will be all about austerity.”


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Looking Ahead: School Choice Momentum Over the Next Five Years

61%18%

21%

School choice momentum –Next five years

Gain momentum

Lose momentum

No change

SCHOOL CHOICE

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Similarly, most Insiders think that the school choice movement will continue to gain momentum over the next five years.

Question: Looking ahead, do you think the school choice movement‐‐public school choice, public charter schools, and private school choice options‐‐will gain momentum, lose momentum, or have no change over the next 5 years?

Comments

• “As schools continue not to improve, more parents (and not just low income parents, but also the middle class) will seek alternatives for their children. I think there will be significant growth in public charter schools in middle class areas.”

• “Republicans have a terrible reputation at the Federal level but are dominating in Governors and state legislatures.”

• “The shape of the options will morph. Far more hybrid governance models underway. But new options and an ability for communities to recruit excellence or start new schools of excellence will be favored over hoping poor schools improve.”

• “It all depends on how (and whether) proponents of school choice engage those who are skeptical.”

• “Especially if the kind of results we’re seeing in NOLA, Denver, and DC continue, other cities will likely adopt choice policies as a way to improve overall system performance.”


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Comments

• “I think incremental progress will continue, including through virtual and blended options.”

• “No urban district in America can say with a straight face, We’re able to provide great options to this city’s kids.’ And that’s a 50‐year trend. It cannot go on.”

• “If Common Core falls apart look for it to expand even faster as people decide that the system is genuinely broken.

• “Changes in the direction of choice policy and practice will depend entirely on who’s in office after November 2016. What changes that may occur before then will be visible only to insiders, even if they’re important ones.”

• “It will continue to lose momentum UNLESS the movement can figure out how to effectively engage educators and parents, particularly those parents that aren’t already sending their kids to schools of choice.”


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Comments

• “[Lose momentum]. BUT, widespread disaffection with public schools (and keeping the dollars flowing) is the next big thing, in my view. As a result, choice will begin to gain substantial momentum five years hence.”

• “Depends on how momentum is defined. If they are options that come heavy with Democratic definitions of ‘quality charter school’ or vouchers that can only go to certain schools, I don’t view that as positive momentum although programs that provide those options might expand.

• “Republicans will continue to promote it, Democrats will continue to stymie it, and the beat goes on.


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Most Important Leadership Skills for Aspiring Policy Leaders ADVICE FOR ASPIRING POLICY LEADERS

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When asked to select their top three leadershipskills that they believed aspiring policy leaders should develop, Insiders feel that content collaboration and team building, risk taking, and decision making are the most important.

Question: What leadership skills do you think are most important for early and mid‐career aspiring policy leaders to develop? PLEASE SELECT THREE.

66%

48% 48% 45% 45%38%

10%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

Most important leadership skills to develop

Comments

• “This was a very hard choice‐‐I think a truly good leader needs to pay attention to all of those skills. And get a reasonable night’s sleep.”

• “Political savvy.”• “Experience in schools.”• “Talent pipeline, talent pipeline, talent pipeline.”• “A strong moral/ethical compass and sense of integrity. Diligence/

perseverance/ grit. Ability to build and sustain personal relationships.”

Insider Insight: Most Important Leadership Skills for Aspiring Policy Leaders

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING POLICY LEADERS

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Most Important Technical Skills for Aspiring Policy Leaders

86%76%

59%

24% 24% 21%10%

ContentExpertise

Communications(oral andwritten)

Research,Analysis &Evaluation

ProjectManagement

StrategicPlanning

ProjectImplementation

Other (pleasedescribe below)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%Most important technical skills to develop


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When asked to select their top three technical skills that they believed aspiring policy leaders should develop, Insiders feel that content expertise, oral and written communications, and research, analysis, and evaluation are the most important.

Question: What technical skills do you think are most important for early and mid‐career aspiring policy leaders to develop? PLEASE SELECT THREE.

Comments• “This a shout out to the outside‐the‐beltway implementers for the incredibly hard

work that they do, which often goes unnoticed in DC. And a reminder to aspiring policy leaders that in order for good policy to succeed, we need more than just policy leaders. We need excellent implementers at the state, district, and school levels. So PLEASE aspiring policy leaders—please think about an implementation job—as a superintendent, accountant, curriculum developer, teacher, or principal! THOSE jobs are the ones that make a direct impact on students. DC seems to forget this.”

• “Experience in schools.”• “[Selected content expertise, project management, and communications.] A fourth

would be research, analysis and evaluation; project experience and real practical experience not just being smart.”

• “Actual teaching/schools experience.”• “Fundraising. I actually find the divide between technical and leadership skills here

quite artificial and unhelpful.”

Insider Insight: Most Important Technical Skills for Aspiring Policy Leaders


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Insiders Reflect on Technical Skills They Wish They Had Learned at Age 25

59% 55% 52%38% 38% 35%

24%

StrategicPlanning

Projectimplementation

ProjectManagement



ContentExpertise


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Skills Insiders wish they had focused on at age 25


27

When asked to reflect on the skills they wish they had focused on at age 25, Insiders’ answers are actually the three least popular answers from the last question.

A common theme among their comments is the importance of learning to manage people.

Question: Looking back to when you were 25, which technical skills do you wish you’d focused on, based on what you know now? PLEASE PICK THREE.

Comments

• “REAL technical research skills ‐ not just what passes for research in DC.”• “The ability of staff to execute. Implementation in the sense that passing laws is a

starting point and attention to implementation over the long haul pays the biggest benefits.”

• “General management.”• “I feel like I made the right choices when I was 25. Got me where I am today and I’m

professionally happier than ever.”• “No one focuses on strategic planning at age 25.”• “Better technology skills for communications and messaging.”• “Fundraising. I also really wish I had [received] greater support in developing my skills

in managing staff and teams—the education policy field in general does an atrocious job of valuing and cultivating effective management skills, and that’s a major factor undermining the effectiveness of the movement.”

Insider Insight: Technical Skills at Age 25ADVICE FOR ASPIRING POLICY LEADERS

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Insiders Reflect on the Most Over‐Rated Skills

37% 33% 30%22%

15% 11% 11%

StrategicPlanning

ProjectManagement


ProjectImplementation


ContentExpertise


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%Most over‐rated skills


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Question: Which technical skills are the most over‐rated? Please select UP TO THREE choices.

Insiders view strategic planning, project management, and research and analysis as the most overrated technical skills.

Comments

• “I don’t think any of these skills are unnecessary. Project management for policy makers, however, is a dangerous area. Focusing on broad implementation, meaning that you have paved the way for something to be possible, is critical. Thinking that you have the expertise to do it yourself is scary.”

• “While I marked ‘project management’ is over‐rated, I don’t really mean that. What I DO mean is what I see in this sector a great deal—project management by folks who don’t have content expertise. That is a recipe for disaster. A project manager that has content knowledge/expertise can be absolutely invaluable—sadly, we do not have enough of them in this field.

• “Quant. It matters but you don’t need as much as people often think to be effective.”• “30,000 foot, ‘DC‐style’ ‘policy development.’”

Insider Insight: Most Over‐Rated SkillsADVICE FOR ASPIRING POLICY LEADERS

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Insiders Not Surprised by Sec. Duncan’s Role in NYC Chancellor Advocacy

SECRETARY DUNCAN

31

74% of Insiders say they were not surprised by Sec. Duncan’s recent role in advocating to then NYC Mayor‐elect Bill de Blasio not to choose Josh Starr for NYC Chancellor.

Question: Did Secretary Duncan’s role in advocating to NYC Mayor‐elect Bill de Blasio not to choose Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr for NYC Chancellor surprise you?

26%

74%

Did Secretary Duncan’s role in advocating to then NYC Mayor‐elect Bill de Blasio not to choose Montgomery County Schools

Superintendent Josh Starr for NYC Chancellor surprise you?

Yes

No

Comments

• “It is wholly inappropriate for a Secretary of Education to engage in this manner. It is just another example of the current administration’s lack of understanding of how their actions continually reaffirm people’s fears about federal overreach.”

• “Policymakers with a stake in something frequently weigh in. It’s just usually done behind the scenes.”

• “While it didn’t surprise me, it absolutely does cause me concern. Particularly when ED wants to move in the direction of more competitive grants and has significant discretion over how those grants are awarded and overseen.”

• “Ensuring that the city doesn’t completely abandon testing and teacher evaluation initiatives is important for continuing NYC’s progress.”

• “What would be surprising about Secretary Duncan injecting himself into a local decision?”

Insider Insight: Sec. Duncan’s Advocacy to de BlasioSECRETARY DUNCAN

32

Comments

• “According to the article in the Post, he gave his views on several candidates when asked, big deal. The real story is that some people around de Blasio are clearly worried about his commitment to killing off school reform or they wouldn’t have leaked like that.”

• “Was highly inappropriate. Can make my peace with Sec. of Ed. putting in a good word—but it’s a huge problem to have Cabinet secretaries aggressively using their authority to denounce and undermine individual job candidates.”

• “Arne Duncan thinks that he is the national school board chairman and national superintendent of schools. He has no sense of humility or understanding of what his job actually is. His ‘Aw, shucks’ demeanor doesn’t excuse his gross violation of what his role is, but because he’s pleasant he gets away with it.”

• “He spends all of his time on issues that are frankly none of his business.”

Insider Insight: Sec. Duncan’s Advocacy to de Blasio (continued)SECRETARY DUNCAN

33

Comments

• “Not sure it was appropriate for him to do so, but I’m glad he did it.”• “How it came out was all wrong; not sure what the conversation was as to

what was reported. Did not stay under the radar which he should have.”• “Of course not. He thinks he needs to opine on any and all matters education

and beyond. What would surprise me is if he practiced some humility and acted like Secretaries of ED past and just quietly waited for his agency portrait to be painted.”

• “And I think it was wildly overrated by the WaPo ‐ a HUGE surprise given that Valerie Strauss wrote the story.”

• “I loved Duncan’s verve. Starr is a one‐trick pony—hating tests. Duncan was the one to say, ‘That trick’s no good.’”

Insider Insight: Sec. Duncan’s Advocacy to de Blasio (continued)SECRETARY DUNCAN

34

Did Secretary Duncan’s Involvement Matter?SECRETARY DUNCAN

35

Most Insiders feel that Sec. Duncan’s involvement did not matter or have any real effect.

Question: Did Secretary Duncan's involvement matter?

31%

69%

Did Sec. Duncan’s involvement matter?

Yes

No

Comments

• “I don’t get the impression his call changed anything. It is clear that de Blasio is no pushover ‐ if de Blasio wanted Starr he would have hired Starr.”

• “I don’t think de Blasio would have brought in a superintendent of a suburban system at this point anyways, regardless of Starr’s previous experience in NYC.”

• “This was just like the US pulling missiles out of Turkey in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis—we were going to do it anyway. Hizzoner was going to say no to not‐ready‐for‐prime‐time Starr, but he let on that Duncan’s intervention was meaningful. Starr was an easy bargaining chip to release because he had no value to the new mayor. Now watch for de Blasio to call in a favor from the feds. He’ll intimate that they owe him.”


36

Comments

• “I sure hope not.”• “The Post story said that de Blasio offered Starr the #2 post, so

Duncan obviously didn’t do him in. This entire episode is much ado about nothing.”

• “Starr wasn’t going to get the job anyway.”• “Hard to say. de Blasio doesn’t strike me as the type to be bullied, but

Arne is allergic to hearing criticism of his National School Board, it’s possible he leaned on the Mayor‐elect heavily not to pick Starr.”


37

Insiders on Sec. Duncan’s Role in Advocacy SECRETARY DUNCAN

38

Most Insiders think that Sec. Duncan engages in this kind of advocacy more than his predecessors, although 38% feel that it his level of involvement in such things is the same as his predecessors’. None of the Insiders think he engages less.

Question: A recent article in the Washington Post on Sec. Duncan's involvement said he is "seen by many as the most activist leader of 35 year‐old department." Does Sec. Duncan engage in this kind of advocacy less, more, or the same as his predecessors?

62%

38%

Does Sec. Duncan engage in this kind of advocacy less, more, or the same as his

predecessors?

Less

More

Same

Comments

• “Never before has there been a clearer national agenda, hence the Secretary of Education has more clout...and he uses it.”

• “I don’t think he engages in more advocacy. I think he engages in it more publicly than his predecessors.”

• “Technological advances and social media probably make it easier for Duncan to use the bully pulpit more, but it’s unclear whether he is more or less influential.”

• “This is what they do. Secretaries have their soapboxes. The effective ones use them.”

• “After five years of poking his nose in local matters on which he has no jurisdiction or knowledge and opining on any and all matters, this isn't even debatable.”

Insider Insight: Sec. Duncan’s Role in Advocacy SECRETARY DUNCAN

39

Comments

• “Duncan is clumsier and has the misfortune of having the role at a time when few seem to have much discretion, but others did the same things.”

• “He’s out of control. The moment a Republican Secretary does 1/100th of what this man has pulled every Democrat in the country will suddenly have a case of the vapors.”

• “Of COURSE Secretary Duncan is more active than some previous Education Secretaries. But some hardly had a policy pulse. I mean, remember Lauro Cavazos?”

• “He is much more visible/vocal than other education secretaries other than Bill Bennett.”

• “WAY. MORE.”

Insider Insight: Sec. Duncan’s Role in Advocacy SECRETARY DUNCAN

40

Whiteboard Advisors

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january 2014- final · education insider: 2014 gubernatorial elections, school choice, advice for...

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