Duncan and Obama Double-Team Issues in Education

The declining state of education in the United States today is miserable and embarrassing. Even though increasing numbers of credentials are expected for higher-paying jobs today, few people take the time and effort to obtain these greater credentials, and a large number of people either don't go to college, or attend college for a couple years, then drop out. In an attempt to ameliorate some of the issues in education, the Obama Administration, primarily Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, has taken steps and developed educational plans for the future. One of these reforms in education came in an announcement on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, by Vice-President Joseph Biden. The New York Times article by Tamar Lewin entitled "Incentives Offered to Raise College Graduation Rates" covers the story on the Obama Administration's recent additions to improve America's educational system: 

During a news briefing Monday, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the program, to be formally announced Tuesday by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., would include only incentives — no “sticks” — for reforms aimed at helping the administration meet its goal of adding eight million college graduates by 2020...In addition, as part of its 2012 budget, the administration has proposed the $123 million “First in the World” initiative for programs that hold down tuition, increase completion rates and move students through college faster. Last, the $50 million College Completion Incentive Grants would reward states and schools for reforms that produce more college graduates.

This move will definitely serve Americans, as well as the country as a whole by stimulating the economy through having a more educated workforce and by adding money to states that succeed in improving their number of college graduates. Hopefully this move will motivate states like Arkansas, Nevada and New Mexico to improve the education of their citizens, only 28% of which currently have college degrees.