In Connecticut, my understanding, although I haven't seen the actual litigation, is that they want to measure every other year and not provide annual assessment as is required in the statute.

I mean, one thing I know about change is we are not going to close the achievement gap without educators.

I do think we know that a teacher who knows what he or she is doing, knows their subject matter, and knows how to impart knowledge to kids is a critical piece of closing the achievement gap.

Higher education is confronting challenges, like the economy is, about the need for a higher number of more adequately trained, more highly educated citizenry.

Don't let anyone else take the measure of your worth and capabilities. Always stand proud in who you are!

And I think that we in America need to understand that many schools need improvement, and particularly with respect to how they're serving minority children.

My understanding is that Kansas, Massachusetts, they've been more pioneers on the special education side.

I think it'd be useful for parents to know kind of what is the culture of an institution.

We at the Department of Education are going to provide technical assistance; I've committed $14 million to show states how they might meet this more sophisticated approach.

It's a hard process to navigate... to figure out where your kid ought to go to college.

If all you ever do is all you've ever done, then all you'll ever get is all you've ever got.

Nothing will work unless you do.

...that you should be nice to everyone until a person gives you reason not to be, and sometimes even then.

Imagine yourself doing what is best for you. Commit yourself to excellence. Transform yourself with dedication to excellence, from daily self-improvement and practice. Enjoy the process.

If the skill of participatory listening came effortlessly and easy for everyone, there would not be so many misunderstandings, communication breakdowns, irritations, and frustrations.

The trite objects of human efforts-possessions, superficial success, luxury-have always seemed contemptible to me.

No elegant woman follows fashion slavishly.

If I was to go to sleep before midnight, I would feel weird about myself, like I wasted a day. My most productive hours are between midnight and five.

The road conditions are so variable here, there is ice, snow and everything in between. But a podium finish is a definite possibility if we stay smooth and adjust to the slippery conditions.

I thought scientists were going to find out exactly how everything worked, and then make it work better.

None of us are perfect, and we all make mistakes. But the American people are a very forgiving people.