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Betsy DeVos calls herself "a national leader in the fight to boldly reform America’s broken education system by giving parents more options." (Photo from her website)
The Grand Rapids political figure, businesswoman and philanthropist nominated as federal education secretary draws national attention Wednesday, including from journalists who've hardly heard of Betsy DeVos or want to learn more.
Here's how a New York Times politics editor reaches out, for instance:
I'm looking for a Betsy DeVos reading list and welcome suggestions ...
— David Leonhardt (@DLeonhardt) November 23, 2016
Amusingly, a CNN correspondent announced the selection as "a woman named Betsy DeVos."
In Michigan, we've generally heard the name and know at least a bit about her roles as a past GOP state chair and major donor (though not to Donald Trump).
As she prepares to join his Cabinet in less than two months, we pull together DeVos statements on education policies:
School vouchers
"As chairman of the American Federation for Children (AFC), the nation’s leading school choice advocacy group, [I have] been a national leader in the fight to boldly reform America’s broken education system by giving parents more options for their children’s education.
"As a result of AFC’s work, over one million children are now in the school of their parents’ choice, instead of being trapped by their zip code in a school that failed to meet their needs." [From her website]
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"Parents, not elected officials or bureaucrats, are in the best position to determine what is in the best interest of their own children. This means choosing their children’s school (or schools), whether they live in Detroit or Grand Rapids — the kind of parental empowerment every parent should have no matter what they do for a living.
"Based on enrollment figures for Detroit, the vast majority of Detroiters agree with us, as they are already choosing schools outside of DPS that work for their children." [Letter to the Free Press, Sept. 11, 2016]
Common Core State Standards
"I am not a supporter—period.
"I do support high standards, strong accountability, and local control. When Governors such as John Engler, Mike Huckabee, and Mike Pence were driving the conversation on voluntary high standards driven by local voices, it all made sense. However, along the way, it got turned into a federalized boondoggle.
"Have organizations that I have been a part of supported Common Core? Of course. But that’s not my position. . . .
"Above all, I believe every child, no matter their zip code or their parents’ jobs, deserves access to a quality education." [From her site]
2017 priorities
"I am very excited to get to work and to talk about my thoughts and ideas on making American education great again. The status quo is not acceptable. I am committed to transforming our education system into the best in the world.
"However, out of respect for the United States Senate, it is most appropriate for me to defer expounding on specifics until they begin their confirmation process." [Added Wednesday afternoon to her site]
Related article today:
Meet the Next Education Secretary, a School Voucher Advocate from Grand Rapids
