Word from sources in Denver is that FBI agents are in town are starting to vet the Denver Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet, and that Bennet traveled to Washington this week. The assumption is that he’s in the running to be named secretary of education, as Jonathan Alter reported in Newsweek.

And other sources who have talked to Arne Duncan say the Chicago schools CEO has talked to the Obama team about the job, even though Duncan didn’t acknowledge the talks when asked about it at an event in Chicago Thursday with Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times (thanks to Alexander Russo for the link). The FBI is starting to vet him as well, the source says.

John Podesta, the transition’s honcho, has said that all Cabinet posts will be announced by Christmas. There’s a good chance we’ll know the nominee for education secretary by the end of next week.

Will it be Duncan, Bennet, or a stealth candidate?