U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan made news at Wednesday’s Kumpuris Lecture by calling on states and school districts to track and publish data related to teacher performance and other measures.
“The truth is always hard to swallow, but it can only make us better, stronger and smarter,” he said. “That’s what accountability is all about — facing the truth and taking responsibility.”
School districts in America should publish student test scores and information about funding, facilities, attendance, graduation rates and other measures, Duncan said.
The lecture was part of the Frank and Kula Kumpuris Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted by the Clinton School, the Clinton Foundation and AT&T.
Duncan told a crowd of education officials, teachers and lawmakers that more information is needed to “help us highlight our remarkable success and help us understand why too many of our children are underprepared.”
Duncan is the first sitting cabinet member to participate in the lecture series. Before the event, Duncan took time to meet briefly with Clinton School students.