“We’re Adrift”: Arne Duncan Urges Democrats To Rebuild An Education Agenda

Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is urging Democrats to reclaim leadership on K–12 education, arguing the party has lost a clear, actionable agenda and is ceding ground to Republicans. In an op‑ed and follow-up interviews, Duncan endorsed the Education Freedom Tax Credit — a federal, opt‑in program created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that would provide $1,700 scholarships beginning in January — as a pragmatic, additive way to help students recover from pandemic learning loss.

Why Duncan Backs The Tax Credit

Duncan, who served as education secretary from 2009 to 2016 after leading Chicago Public Schools, said the scale of learning loss — especially for students already facing economic and social disadvantages — requires new thinking. He called the tax credit a "no‑brainer," noting it would be available only in states that opt in and that it could be used for summer school, tutoring, longer school days or other targeted supports.

"We’re adrift, it’s killing us politically, and it’s killing our kids," Duncan told The 74. "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."

The Political And Moral Case

Duncan framed support for the credit in both moral and political terms. He argued federal tax dollars redirected to support students locally could be a better use of resources than funding other federal priorities he opposes. He estimated — conservatively — that if 20–30% of eligible families participate, states could see "hundreds of millions, or even billions" in additional support.

Responding To Criticisms

Critics warn that school‑choice programs can drain resources from public schools or enable discriminatory practices in private settings. Duncan acknowledged those concerns and said robust guardrails are essential: public money requires accountability, transparency, and rules barring funding for institutions that discriminate. He emphasized that more than 90% of students attend public schools and that the proposal is intended to supplement, not replace, existing public resources.

What It Means For Democrats

Duncan warned that Democrats’ lack of a cohesive education platform is a political liability. He cited three worries: persistently low student achievement, Republicans’ advantage on education in recent swing‑state polling, and the surprising fact that many NAEP gains have come from red states. He urged Democrats to adopt clear goals, measurable strategies, metrics, and public accountability — and to run on education as a core issue.

Concerns About Federal Leadership

Duncan also criticized the direction of the U.S. Department of Education under the Trump administration, arguing that rhetoric and policy moves — including cuts to civil‑rights enforcement — reflect a broader assault on educational institutions and critical thinking. He warned that attacks on education are tactics authoritarian leaders use to limit dissent and control information.

Local Governance: Chicago Public Schools

Turning to his hometown, Duncan expressed concern about governance in Chicago Public Schools. When he was superintendent the district answered to seven mayoral appointees; it now has 21 board members. He said that proliferation of oversight roles makes accountability and recruitment of strong executives more difficult and could deter high‑quality candidates from applying for leadership roles.

Conclusion

Duncan’s intervention is both prescriptive and political: he wants Democrats to stop treating education as a secondary issue and to offer parents concrete, accountable plans to accelerate learning. Whether his endorsement of the Education Freedom Tax Credit persuades other Democratic leaders remains uncertain — so far, only Colorado Governor Jared Polis has opted in and Senate Democrats have moved to repeal the program — but Duncan hopes the debate will spark a broader reengagement with education policy across the party.