Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran and two other state legislators have joined nearly 150 national lawmakers supporting President-elect Donald Trump's controversial pick for U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is set to take up DeVos' nomination on Tuesday.
Corcoran was joined by state Reps. Jose Oliva and Jose Felix Diaz in expressing support for DeVos and other state-level leaders nationwide in the letter.
"As one of the most critical issues impacting the future of our nation, we must have a Secretary of Education committed to the needs of all of our nation’s children," the letter reads. "Betsy DeVos has made it her life’s mission to find, support and push for education solutions in her home state of Michigan and across the country. She is an advocate and ally for all children, and we write to you today to express our support for her nomination to this important position as her confirmation hearing approaches."
The leaders said DeVos' commitment to promoting school choice is one of the primary reasons they supported her nomination.
"Her support for an all-of-the-above approach to K-12 education – from charter schools, to public, private and online education – defines the school choice movement that has helped countless children across many of our states," they wrote. "By advancing these innovative solutions from the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos will put children first and empower not only states to lead the way in making critical education decisions, but also empower parents to choose what type of education is best for their children."
Corcoran, Diaz and Oliva join other state leaders like Gov. Rick Scott in their support for DeVos. Last week, the governor also wrote a letter to the Senate committee urging them to confirm the former Michigan Republican Party chair for the job.
DeVos is expected to push school choice programs if confirmed as Education Secretary, a position which has put her at odds with teachers unions and education groups nationwide.
Teachers, who generally oppose school choice programs, have also criticized DeVos for not having any experience working in the public education system. DeVos has never worked as a teacher or superintendent but instead has donated to education causes in her home state of Michigan.
“Betsy DeVos lacks the qualifications and experience to serve as secretary of education,” American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten said. “Her drive to privatize education is demonstrably destructive to public schools and to the educational success of all of our children.”
The Badass Teachers Association, which boasts over 50,000 members nationwide, has protested DeVos' appointment for months, criticizing her for having no experience in public education.
"Public education is not a business. Public education is not a competition. In competition and business there are winners and losers. Public education should be about nurturing our most valuable resource - our children," said BATs executive director Marla Kilfoyle. "Our children deserve a Secretary of Education who is an advocate for public education not privatization."
The Senate is expected to begin DeVos' hearing at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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