I believe that education is the civil rights issue of our generation. And if you care about promoting opportunity and reducing inequality, the classroom is the place to start. Great teaching is about so much more than education; it is a daily fight for social justice.

I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina.

Wherever you find something extraordinary, you’ll find the fingerprints of a great teacher.

When I ask teachers why they teach, they almost always say that it is because they want to make a difference in the lives of children.

Historically the Department of Education hasn't been doing enough to drive the sustainability movement, and today, I promise that we will be a committed partner in the national effort to build a more environmentally literate and responsible society.

We need to lengthen the school day. We need to lengthen the school year. Our calendar is based upon the agrarian economy. Children in India and China are going to school 25, 30, 35 more days a year. They're just working harder than us. So, we need more time, particularly for disadvantaged children, who aren't getting those supports at home.

No one is mandating merit pay.