Tackling District Reform: The Chicago Story

Room: Michigan A&B

presented by Arne Duncan, Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Public Schools

Since 2001, Arne Duncan has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools, which serves over 437,000 students. During his tenure, CPS has often been cited as a national model for comprehensive reform of a large urban schools district. The district's ambitious agenda centers around multiple initiatives—increasing pre-school options, national board certification of teachers, opening 100 new schools with new options for students, focusing on world languages—to name a few. The IB also plays a part, and CPS now has more IB schools that any other school district in the world. In this session, Duncan will critically evaluate the progress to date, reflect on the successes, and speak to the challenge that still remains.

Arne Duncan, Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Public Schools
The Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, named Arne Duncan Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools in 2001. Mr Duncan joined Chicago Public Schools in 1998, where he previously held the positions of Director of Magnet Schools and Programs and Deputy Chief of Staff.
Mr Duncan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1987, majoring in sociology. He was co-captain of Harvard’s basketball team and was named a first team Academic All-American. From 1987-1991, Mr Duncan played professional basketball in Australia, where he also worked with children who were wards of the state. He returned to Chicago in 1992 to direct the Ariel Education Initiative, which seeks to create outstanding educational opportunities for children on the city’s South Side. In May of 2003, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Lake Forest College.