The department also will hold a leadership summit for principals this summer. The secretary painted a good picture of the state of education, saying SAT and ACT scores are up, and the gender gap in math and science courses is shrinking. He noted that many high school students are taking tougher classes, including challenging Advanced Placement courses. But the secretary ripped vouchers. Vouchers drain funds from public education and they divert us from the real challenge of lifting up all our children.
Vouchers are a mistake.
He also took a shot at Republican efforts to block grant some federal education funding. But the chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee took exception to that, saying such grants give states and localities the flexibility to use federal funds to serve their schools particular needs.