WASHINGTON --While meeting with New Orleans students, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., today vowed to accelerate education reform efforts already underway throughout the region. This is Secretary Duncan's first trip to Louisiana since being confirmed as Education Secretary, and he toured the area at Senator Landrieu's invitation to discuss school reform proposals with Louisiana's education community. He also addressed the National Science Teachers Association's national conference.

"Secretary Duncan's visit to the New Orleans region today demonstrates the Obama Administration's commitment to Louisiana's recovery efforts and to building upon the progress we have achieved since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," Sen. Landrieu said. "Secretary Duncan and the Department of Education are demonstrating that they are our partners as we find new and innovative ways to improve educational opportunities throughout our state. While the success stories in New Orleans are many, our schools and students still face significant challenges that will require federal, state and local collaboration."

"We now have a historic opportunity to take innovative ideas that are working and take them to scale across the country," said Duncan. "Louisiana is uniquely positioned to lead the way in driving this innovation nationwide. I am here to help accelerate that change."

State Superintendent Paul Pastorek, Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas and Orleans Parish Superintendent Darryl Kilbert accompanied Secretary Duncan and Senator Landrieu at various stages of the tour. The group met with graduating seniors at Edna Karr High School before heading to Sophie B. Wright Charter School to speak with 4th grade students.

"We are thankful to Secretary Duncan, Senator Landrieu and others who arranged this visit," Superintendent Pastorek said. "Louisiana is wholeheartedly committed to transforming our education system through meaningful reforms that result in raising student achievement. Our hope is that his visits to these schools today expose him to our unwavering commitment to provide each and every child in our state with the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are very pleased that the priorities outlined by Secretary Duncan over the last few weeks closely align with Louisiana's current initiatives and concerns. This is an exciting time for the education community in Louisiana and across the country, and we look forward to working with Secretary Duncan and his staff to affect real progress through innovative and effective practices and models."

The day was highlighted by an education roundtable at Tulane University. More than 50 Louisiana education leaders from diverse backgrounds discussed education reform and ways to continue to make New Orleans school systems -- from elementary to charters to public universities -- a model for the nation. Participants included Superintendents Pastorek, Vallas, and Kilbert; Scott Cowen, Tulane University President; Kira Orange Jones, Executive Director of Teach for America in Greater New Orleans; Dr. Andre Perry, Associate Dean and CEO of the University of New Orleans Charter Schools; and Sarah Usdin, President of New Schools for New Orleans.

Many of the specific reforms promoted by President Obama and Secretary Duncan, such as accountability standards and teacher effectiveness, are already being implemented in New Orleans schools. The Obama Administration also supports the proliferation of high-quality, high-performance public charter schools and to enhance educational opportunities for all students.

Thanks to the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Secretary Duncan and the Department will conduct a national competition among states for a $4.35 billion state incentive "Race to the Top" fund to improve education quality and results statewide. The Race to the Top fund will help states drive substantial gains in student achievement by supporting states making dramatic progress on reform goals. Given reforms and innovative approaches already embraced by many school districts, Louisiana is positioned to compete for Race to the Top funds.

"Since the 2005 hurricanes, the learning environment for students has greatly improved," Sen. Landrieu said. "Louisiana is now in a position to secure competitive grants in the economic recovery act. In this Race to the Top, we were out of the gate before we knew there was a competition. Louisiana is at the front of the pack, leading the nation in school reform and achievement."

Before Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans school system had 128 public schools serving 65,000 students. The district was among the lowest performing in the nation. In 2005, the state Department of Education took over 107 "failing" public schools in New Orleans that were performing below state averages. Post-Katrina, a smaller, more entrepreneurial system has evolved with 86 public schools, of which more than half are charter schools. The system now serves about 36,000 students, with 69 percent of New Orleans students enrolled in public charter schools, the highest proportion in the country. According to Education Week, "Louisiana has been widely praised for setting a high bar for new charters."

"Since the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we have seized the opportunity to rebuild a public school system based on independence, innovation and community involvement," Sen. Landrieu said. "We have had incredible educational entrepreneurs and reformers sweep the city. They have worked with our homegrown education leaders to make this transformation possible. These collaborative efforts bring together our universities, communities and K-12 leaders, and involve public, private and non-profit sectors to truly incubate educational excellence. These cutting-edge educational experiments in New Orleans can serve as a model for school districts across the nation."