On October 2, after more than 7 years years as U.S. Education Secretary, Arne Duncan announced plans to step down from his Cabinet position by the end of December, 2015, leaving the Obama administration more than a year before the president’s term will end. Duncan, 50, has been one of the longest-serving education secretaries and, by some accounts, the most influential.
Duncan was able to influence states to adopt his favored policies by taking advantage of two powerful devices: competitive federal grants known as Race to the Top and waivers that excused states from the requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, a federal law widely disliked by states. In order to compete for a grant under Race to the Top, or to receive a waiver under No Child Left Behind, states adopted Duncan’s policies. Today, more than 40 states hold such waivers. Read more about Arne Duncan by visiting the White House.gov