Donald Trump with Betsy DeVos

Voucher Advocate Confirmed as Education Secretary

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as Education secretary by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie in a historic vote.

Two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined Democrats in the unsuccessful effort to derail the nomination of the wealthy Republican donor. The Senate historian said Pence’s vote was the first by a vice president to break a tie on a Cabinet nomination.

DeVos has faced scathing criticism from teachers unions and “civil rights activists” over her support of charter and private schools and her religious beliefs.

The following is a statement from Agudath Israel of America on DeVos’ confirmation:

Agudath Israel of America congratulates Betsy DeVos on her confirmation today as the next U.S. Secretary of Education. Mrs. DeVos has spent the last three decades focused on giving parents and children educational opportunities. She will now bring her passion to the more than 50 million children educated in schools across America.

Agudath Israel has been deeply engaged in the national discussion on educational reform for more than 60 years and has worked closely with elected officials on both sides of the aisle to seek ways to enhance American education – both public and nonpublic. Support for public education should include the entire public, including parents who seek for their children an educational alternative to their local public school.

Agudath Israel looks forward to continuing to work with Mrs. DeVos and with stakeholders from across the educational spectrum to create and implement policies that benefit every child in America, regardless of where they live or attend school.

7 Comments

  • Amused Observer

    She has literally no qualifications whatsoever for the job. Thanks, Trump!

    Enjoy your higher private school tuitions!

    • About time for positive change

      Fool. All the public schools in ch teaches kids is how to commit crime and avoid paying for their crime. It’s not fair to them. And it’s not fair to parents of private school kids to have to pay their kids tuition PLUS support the lack of education in our failed public schools.
      Be happy for the change.

  • Omg

    Oh God no. NO. YES our kids go to private schools. But the majority of kids in this nation don’t. This will essentially be screwing over the youth-our future engineers, lawyers, leaders. This isn’t fair to all the kids who attend public schools. And before any of you can argue-not everyone can afford a private school.
    I’ll pray that she at least does improve the system and doesn’t just throw it under the bus.

  • 2 the amused observer ..

    Just for your information the current head of the UPK program in NYC is run by a young women who never spent a day in a classroom and her only qualification is that she has an MBA…..( I guess she’s good at running a business)… Stop being so self righteous

  • Great news!

    A strong advocate for school vouchers, she is a member of the board of the Foundation for Excellence in Education. She has served as chairwoman of the board of Alliance for School Choice and Acton Institute and heads the All Children Matter PAC. This appointment will help minority kids and their families, as well as religious families. It is the first step in wrenching power away from the school unions that have kept minority kids in the urban plantations.