How Schools Work

Reviews

“How Schools Work is as insightful as it is inspiring… This is a book every American must read.”
— Washington Book Review “Arne Duncan was one of the most powerful education secretaries in US history. Which is not to say he got his way. In this surprisingly candid chronology of his lifelong quest to fix America’s schools, Duncan reveals how he learned to run towards angry parents (not away from them), to understand the cowardice of certain national politicians (and the courage of others), and to hear the lies that get told about our education system (including a couple that he told himself).”
— Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author of The Smartest Kids in the World “In How Schools Work, Secretary Duncan outlines an honest and thoughtful way forward for our education system. This book merits every American’s serious consideration because, as Secretary Duncan explains, our children, our economy, and our national security are at stake.”
— Vice President Joe Biden “An incendiary new book about the ‘lies’ [Duncan] says the public is fed about education and student potential.”
— Politico “The book exudes an earnest Leave It to Beaver charm.... [Duncan shares] moving accounts of his experiences with the families of students killed by gun violence. He shows admirable verve in describing his success working with a Chicago school system lawyer to find a contractual workaround to make an afterschool program logistically feasible, and his later willingness, as superintendent, to give “Freakonomics” researcher Steven Levitt access to the city’s test data in order to flag teacher cheating.”
— Education Next “Full of smart ideas for U.S. public education.”
— The74 “An impassioned plea for school reform.... Duncan’s heart is in the right place.”
— Kirkus Reviews “Duncan’s experienced perspective will interest anyone invested in American public education.”
— Publishers Weekly Expand reviews