Some Pennsylvania education advocates are disappointed that Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos is officially the U.S. Secretary of Education, but many said today they will continue to press her to protect public education.
“I congratulate Ms. DeVos,” said Lawrence Feinberg, co-chair of the Keystone State Education Coalition. “I wish her the best of luck getting up to speed. I would strongly invite her to come visit our schools and to learn what public education is actually about.”
The Senate confirmed Ms. DeVos, a school choice advocate and longtime Republican donor, in a 50-50 vote today, with Vice President Mike Pence voting to break the tie in a historic vote.
Mr. Feinberg’s organization opposed Ms. DeVos’ appointment and urged U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, to vote against her last week.
“I just hope she gets out in the field and gets to see the good work that public schools are doing and isn’t just looking at education through a filter of school choice,” Mr. Feinberg said.
Sen. Toomey, who voted in her favor, released a statement last week praising Ms. DeVos for her work to provide quality school options to all children.
“Because of Betsy’s work to expand charter schools, virtual schools, school choice, tuition tax credits and education savings accounts, hundreds of thousands of children who had been trapped in failing schools have been able to access a quality education,” he said.
But Democrats cited her lack of experience working with public schools and her financial ties to charter schools among reasons for their opposition.
“We lost a vote on Betsy DeVos, now we begin holding her accountable,” U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat who voted against her appointment, tweeted after the noon Senate vote. “The effort that began with families and students is just getting started.”
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools did not oppose her nomination and praised Ms. DeVos’ record of supporting charter schools, said director Robert Fayfich.
“I’m hopeful of what’s going to happen,” he said. “She’s a charter supporter and that’s great. But we’re supporters of charters with accountability and (good) performance.”
Mr. Fayfich added that he hopes she will appoint team members who have sufficient experience in areas of education that she doesn’t have.
Wythe Keever, spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said the teachers’ union was disappointed in the outcome of the vote but proud of the mobilization and outpouring of support it received from its members.
“Betsy DeVos may have survived the confirmation vote, but her agenda may not,” he said. “This is not the end of the battle against privatization of public schools. It’s only the beginning.”
First Published: February 7, 2017, 8:57 p.m.
Updated: February 7, 2017, 10:04 p.m.
