Obama’s education secretary flunks Dems over failing schools: ‘It’s killing us politically, and it’s killing our kids’
Former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan criticized Democrats for lacking a clear education agenda and ceding the issue to Republicans, saying it is harming both children and the party politically. He expressed concern that progress in education is coming from Republican-led states, while Democratic governors have not embraced a federal scholarship program. Duncan emphasized the need for greater educational investment and accountability, calling the current situation a moral failure.
- ▪Arne Duncan served as Education Secretary under President Barack Obama and previously led Chicago Public Schools.
- ▪Duncan stated that Republicans were more popular on education in swing states during the 2024 election, which he called inconceivable.
- ▪He praised education improvements in red states like Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, calling it an embarrassment for Democrats.
- ▪Duncan supports a federal tax credit scholarship program set to take effect in January, which most Democratic governors have not opted into.
- ▪He argued the scholarship program is a moral imperative and does not threaten public education, as 90% of students remain in public schools.
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US News Obama’s education secretary flunks Dems over failing schools: ‘It’s killing us politically, and it’s killing our kids’ By Carl Campanile Published May 3, 2026, 3:37 p.m. ET Former President Barack Obama’s Education Secretary Arne Duncan flunked fellow Democrats for failing to run on improving schools — and ceding the education issue to Republicans. “We’re adrift, it’s killing us politically, and it’s killing our kids,” Duncan said of Democrats during an interview with The 74 education news site. “I’m deeply troubled by what’s happening to kids, and by what’s happening to us because we’ve lost any vision for education … Republicans were more popular on education in swing states.
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