Education Secretary Duncan announces new education plan

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Labor Secretary Arne Duncan said he believes the Obama administration can work with Republicans in Congress to revamp of No Child Left Behind.

In an appearance at Seaton Elementary School in Washington, Duncan proposed greater access to preschool programs and more money for teachers and principals. In the most controversial area, he backed annual standardized tests, although he said the process should be streamlined and schools should limit the amount of time spent on testing.

"I believe we can work together, Republicans and Democrats, move beyond the out-of-date and tired and prescriptive No Child Left Behind Law," Duncan said.

The law was President George W. Bush's signature domestic achievement. Senators and representatives from both parties collaborated on writing the law and shepherding it through Congress.

But many Republicans have turned against the testing required by No Child Left Behind, joining teachers unions and many parents. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the new chairman of the Senate Education Committee, has said schools spend far too much time on tests.

Alexander has also accused the Obama administration of trying to function as the "national school board."

Duncan suggested Republicans want to turn the clock back -- "Back to the days when, in too many places, the buck stopped nowhere for student learning. Back to the days when expectations for how much a student should learn often depended on what side of town he or she grew up on. The days when the only factor that never seemed to matter in teacher evaluation was how much students were learning."