Strickland, U.S. education sec. headline rally on education

5/8/2009
ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has enlisted the help of U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in pushing for broad changes in Ohio's public education policy.

The Democrats headlined a rally Friday designed to build momentum behind Strickland's efforts to overhaul the state's education and school funding policy.

Duncan did not endorse Strickland's specific plans to change the curriculum or increase the state's share of funding, saying it wasn't his position to do so. But Duncan said he applauds Strickland for recognizing that Ohio can't continue to teach its students the same way it has for decades.

Strickland's plan is now in the hands of the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate, which has signaled it will make major changes.