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U.S. Education Secretary Visits St. Paul Elementary School

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan wants Congress to move faster in overhauling the nation's K-12 education law. He toured Dayton's Bluff Elementary School in St. Paul Tuesday. Duncan wants a new education law in place before school resumes in the fall.

The Education Secretary said measures of success are more than a test score.

"Anyone who thinks that a test score should determine the evaluation of a teacher or principal or school district, I think, is crazy," said Duncan.

On the other hand, he said not placing high emphasis on test scores also is "crazy."

"You have to look at multiple measures," he said.

Duncan called for "tough-minded collaboration".

U.S. Senator Al Franken joined Duncan at Dayton's Bluff Elementary on Tuesday. Both he and Duncan stressed the importance of early childhood education.

"Early childhood has an incredible return on investment," said Senator Franken.

Minnesota Republican Congressman, John Kline, heads the House education committee. Responding to Secretary Duncan's call for faster action on education, Kline said he won't rush to meet an arbitrary deadline.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Bruce Hagevik Reports

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