U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN, ALONG WITH NASA ASTRONAUT RICKY ARNOLD AND OTHER GUESTS, ANSWER STUDENTS’ QUESTIONS DURING AN EDUCATIONAL TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE SPACE & ROCKET CENTER. THE SECRETARY’S VISIT WAS PART OF HIS TOUR TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, WITH STOPS IN GEORGIA, ALABAMA AND TENNESSEE

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speaks during an event at the National Press Club in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. NASA is working with Univision Communications Inc. to develop a partnership in support of the Spanish-language media outlet's initiative to improve high school graduation rates, prepare Hispanic students for college, and encourage them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speaks at an event at the National Press Club in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. NASA is working with Univision Communications Inc. to develop a partnership in support of the Spanish-language media outlet's initiative to improve high school graduation rates, prepare Hispanic students for college, and encourage them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

FROM LEFT, U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER CEO DR. DEBORAH BARNHART AND MARSHALL CENTER DIRECTOR PATRICK SCHEUERMANN DISCUSS NASA’S HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN AND THE NEWLY APPOINTED NASA ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR OF EDUCATION, DONALD JAMES. THE SECRETARY’S VISIT TO THE SPACE & ROCKET CENTER WAS PART OF HIS FIFTH ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL BUS TOUR AND INCLUDED AN EDUCATIONAL TOWN HALL MEETING WITH LOCAL STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan speaks during an event at the Department of Education, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, in Washington where he and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden hosted Washington area middle and high school students for a live discussion with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The event is part of the 10th annual celebration of International Education Week. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

An unidentified student speaks with astronauts aboard the Internatiional Space Station (ISS) via downlink during an event at the U.S. Department of Education, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, in Washington. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted Washington area middle and high school students Thursday for a live discussion with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The event was part of the 10th annual celebration of International Education Week. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

Students speak with astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) via downlink during an event at the U.S. Department of Education, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, in Washington. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted Washington area middle and high school students Thursday for a live discussion with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The event was part of the 10th annual celebration of International Education Week. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

Students speak with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) via downlink during an event at the U.S. Department of Education, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, in Washington. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted Washington area middle and high school students Thursday for a live discussion with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The event was part of the 10th annual celebration of International Education Week. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, left, speaks during an event where students spoke via downlink to astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington. Bolden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted Washington area middle and high school students Thursday for a live discussion with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The event was part of the 10th annual celebration of International Education Week. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden speaks during an event where students spoke via downlink to astronauts on the ISS, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington. Bolden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan are hosted Washington area middle and high school students Thursday for a live discussion with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The event was part of the 10th annual celebration of International Education Week. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)

STS-128 mission specialist Jose Hernandez, left, makes a point while talking to students during an event at the U.S. Department of Education, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, in Washington as fellow STS-128 crew members, Patrick Forrester and Christer Fuglesang, of the European Space Agency, right, look on. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted Washington area middle and high school students Thursday for a live discussion with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The event was part of the 10th annual celebration of International Education Week. Photo Credit: (NASA/Paul E. Alers)