U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said last week that he envisions a significant new emphasis on federal incentives for high-performing schools, districts, and states in the renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), expected to be taken up by Congress as early as next year. Duncan said the Department of Education is considering proposals that would offer increased autonomy, recognition, and resources for states that commit to adopting college- and career-readiness standards, and for schools and districts that make significant progress in student achievement. "Under [the No Child Left Behind Act] there are basically no incentives. There was nothing. There are 50 ways to fail, and if you succeeded there was nothing there for you," the secretary said in a wide-ranging interview with "Education Week" reporters. He said he'd like to change that when Congress and the administration move to revamp the ESEA, whose current version is the No Child Left Behind law. It was originally slated for reauthorization in 2007. Duncan said through the coming reauthorization, the department aims to build on the emphasis on teacher quality, data, standards, and support of low-performing schools that is at the heart of the education portion of the economic-stimulus law enacted in February.