Last month, National Journal launched an education blog that features more than seventy of the leading experts in the education policy world. Every Monday, blog moderator Lisa Caruso, who covers education, immigration, and transportation for National Journal, posts a new question for the panel of experts, which includes current U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, past secretaries Margaret Spellings and Rod Paige, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), and U.S. Representatives Tim Bishop (D-NY), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Dale Kildee (D-MI), John Kline (R-MN), and Donald Payne (D-NJ).
During the first week of the blog, panelists discussed the best use of stimulus money and largely agreed with Secretary Duncan that the money should be used to avoid cuts in education, but should also be used to invest in reforms that will “pay dividends decades into the future.” At the same time, the panelists asked thought-provoking questions about how the Race to the Top funds will be awarded and whether states will be able to enact fundamental and positive change with them.
During the second week of the blog, panelists were asked whether mayoral control is the answer for urban schools. Responses ranged from the opinion that mayoral control was yet another educational fad, to the belief that mayoral control had promise but is not a silver bullet. This week, the experts were asked how colleges can help graduates pursue a career.
Access the blog and see the complete list of participants at http://education.nationaljournal.com/.