Dive Brief:

• Talking at the College of New Rochelle, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Deborah Delisle gave insight into her thoughts on education starting with the need for a shift in lingo. Delisle believes we should stop talking about “achievement gaps” and instead look at "opportunity gaps," putting responsibility on adults, where she says it should be.

• Obama’s “College Readiness Standards” were also defended by Delisle, who said she shivers when somebody says “Every kid is not going to college.” 

• When asked how "raised bars" for entry into the teaching profession will affect the diversity of teachers, Delisle came full circle and asserted the need to close the "opportunity gap." 

Dive Insight:

Getting a chance to hear from members of the Department of Education, other than Arne Duncan, is an opportunity to garner some insight into the inner-workings of the team, as well as its thought process.  It’s clear from Delisle’s talk at the College of New Rochelle that the department is aligned in its views.