CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama announced Arne Duncan, the head of the Chicago school system, as education secretary Tuesday and said failing to improve classroom instruction is "morally unacceptable for our children."
"When it comes to school reform, Arne is the most hands-on of hands-on practitioners," Obama said at a news conference in a school that he said has made remarkable progress under Duncan's leadership.
"He's not beholden to any one ideology, and he's worked tirelessly to improve teacher quality," Obama said.
Duncan stood nearby, the latest member to be named to the Cabinet of the president-elect. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
