U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan envisions a significant new emphasis on federal incentives for high-performing schools, districts, and states in the reauthorization of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, expected to be taken up by Congress as early as next year.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan with First Lady Michelle Obama

Duncan told Education Week the Department of Education is considering proposals that would offer increased autonomy, recognition, and resources for states that commit to adopting college- and career-readiness standards, and for schools and districts that make significant progress in student achievement.

“Under [the No Child Left Behind Act] there are basically no incentives. There was nothing. There are 50 ways to fail, and if you succeeded there was nothing there for you,” Duncan said. He’d like to change that when Congress and the administration move to revamp the ESEA, whose current version is the No Child Left Behind law.

The department is seeking to build on the emphasis on teacher quality, data, standards, and support of low-performing schools that is at the heart of the education portion of the economic-stimulus law enacted in February, Duncan said.

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