Two of the nation’s largest teachers unions had nothing but criticism on Wednesday for President-elect Trump’s decision to pick Betsy DeVos, an outspoken school choice advocate, to lead the Department of Education in his administration.
Trump announced the appointment in the early afternoon, describing DeVos as “a brilliant and passionate education advocate” who is committed to reforming the current public education system and demolishing “the bureaucracy that is holding our children back.” But the unions immediately opposed her.
“Trump has chosen the most ideological, anti-public [education] nominee since the creation of the Dept. of Education,” Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.6-million member American Federation of Teachers, wrote on Twitter.
Trump has chosen the most ideological, anti-public ed nominee since the creation of the Dept of Education. https://t.co/4NwFn5fzvx
— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) November 23, 2016
Weingarten’s union has promoted Common Core, which Trump has vowed to “get rid of,” as part of a program that “will help improve education for all students.” AFT also opposes expanded school choice.
National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia was also quick to criticize the president-elect’s latest Cabinet pick, claiming DeVos has “consistently worked against” providing access to public education to all students “no matter their background or circumstances.”
“Her efforts over the years have done more to undermine public education than support students,” Garcia said in a statement. “She has lobbied for failed schemes, like vouchers — which take away funding and local control from our public schools — to fund private schools at taxpayers’ expense … [and] she has consistently pushed a corporate agenda to privatize, de-professionalize and impose cookie-cutter solutions to public education.”
Garcia said the incoming Republican administration has “demonstrated just how out of touch it is with what works best for students, parents, educators and communities” through its appointment of DeVos.
DeVos, 58, must be confirmed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate before taking over the Education Department.
“I am honored to accept this responsibility to work with the President-elect on his vision to make American education great again,” she said Wednesday. “The status quo in education is not acceptable. Together, we can work to make transformational change that ensures every student in America has the opportunity to fulfill his or her highest potential.”
On the other side, conservatives, including at least two of Trump’s most notable critics, lauded him for choosing Devos.
“Very excited about Betsy DeVos as Ed Sec. Could be strongest since my boss, Bill Bennett — and Betsy will have a more cooperative Congress,” tweeted Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard and a member of the anti-Trump crowd.
“Betsy DeVos is an outstanding pick for Secretary of Education,” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said in a statement. “I look forward to her bold leadership at the [U.S. Department of Education].”
Sen. Lamar Alexander lauded Trump’s choice of DeVos, who married into what is arguably the best known family on Michigan’s western half. Her father-in-law c-founded the direct sales behemoth Amway, and the DeVos name is plastered on half of Grand Rapids’ civic buildings and the city’s largest and most-upscale hotel is the Amway Grand.
“The Senate’s education committee will move swiftly in January to consider her nominate,” stated Alexander, who leads the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
“Betsy has worked for years to improve educational opportunities for all children,” he said. “As secretary, she will be able to implement the new law fixing No Child Left Behind just as Congress wrote it, reversing the trend to a national school board and restoring to states, governors, school boards, teachers, and parents greater responsibility for improving education in their local communities. I also look forward to working with her on the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, giving us an opportunity to clear out the jungle of red tape that makes it more difficult for students to obtain financial aid and for administrators to manage America’s 6000 colleges and universities.”
Former Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., also backs her nomination. DeVos “has been a staunch supporter of more education choices for students and parents,” the Heritage Foundation president stated on Twitter.
An education expert at the Libertarian Cato Institute backed her with reservations.
“On the spectrum of education policy people, her support for choice puts her well on the correct side,” Cato’s Neal McClusky wrote Wednesday. “But I have concerns: especially that President-elect Trump will see Ms. DeVos — or that she will see herself — not just as the education department head, but rather as the national education boss.”
National education groups that support voucher programs were ecstatic.
“We applaud President-elect Donald Trump for choosing and placing his trust in Betsy DeVos,” stated the American Federation for Children’s John Kirtley. “For more than 20 years, Betsy has fought relentlessly for the right of every child – especially disadvantaged children – to receive a quality education of their parents’ choice. We are confident Betsy will take the same passion, commitment and leadership she’s shown in the school choice movement to the helm of the U.S. Department of Education.”
DeVos is a past chairwoman of the organization.
