If you're wondering what new U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be like, his speech yesterday offered some clues.

Duncan cited factors that created a "perfect storm for reform," including money in the stimulus package, innovative programs like Teach for America and the KIPP charter schools, and what he called the Barack effect -- "the soft power that accompanies the symbolism of an African-American president who has made education cool and exciting and infinitely promising."

Duncan also offered these lines:

"The president talked about responsibility in his inaugural speech. He tells parents that raising children is a job that requires time, energy, resources, love and commitment. He tells unions that with American education in crisis, we can't be limited by ideology. We must all honestly acknowledge failed strategies of the past and explore new ones –- from charter schools to performance pay –- and if they’re not working we must be honest about that also."

Ron Matus, State Education Reporter

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