Betsy DeVos will finally face the music -- and a committee of U.S. senators -- as she heads for a full vote to become the next Secretary of Education on Tuesday.
DeVos has had no cakewalk on the path to lead the country's education system. A heavyweight Republican donor, DeVos has been harshly criticized for having virtually no experience in public education. She has never been a teacher, nor has she held any public office relating to education.
Democrats specifically have raised their voices in opposition to DeVos' nomination.
They are incredibly likely to vote in a bloc against DeVos, who needs to receive 51 votes to be confirmed as the next Education Secretary.
Democrats currently hold 48 seats in the Senate, leaving three votes in limbo to knock DeVos off of the education radar.
Education groups, too, have vehemently opposed DeVos' nomination. Nearly 250 of them penned a letter to the U.S. Senate, pleading with lawmakers to say "no" to DeVos.
The groups, which include the NAACP and the National Education Association, said the billionaire's deference to state flexibility and lack of education experience make her the wrong choice for the future of American education.
"When compared with Secretaries of Education throughout the history of the department, DeVos’ lack of experience stands out," they wrote. "She has never been an educator or worked directly with children and families in public schools. She has never led a school, district or state agency tasked with educating students. She has never been a public school parent or a public school student. This lack of experience makes her uniquely unfamiliar with the challenges and opportunities facing the nation’s students, families, educators and schools."
Florida groups opposed to the controversial Common Core State Standards have also hopped onboard to trash DeVos' lack of experience and her connections to high-profile Republicans, which they say heavily impacted the administration's decision to choose DeVos for the job.
“The special interests reigned over the interests of parents,” Florida Stop Common Core Coalition executive director Dr. Karen Effrem told Sunshine State News.
Not all is lost for DeVos, though, and it's likely she will be confirmed Tuesday. DeVos' strength will undoubtedly come from Republicans and school choice advocates, who have rushed to her defense, praising her for her work as an advocate for the school choice movement nationwide.
State lawmakers in Florida have backed her nomination, complimenting her for her commitment to school choice.
“I cannot think of a more effective and passionate change agent to press for a new education vision, one in which students, rather than adults and bureaucracies, become the priority in our nation’s classrooms,” said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, an education powerhouse in the Sunshine State.
Republican PACs have put their weight behind DeVos, as well. On Monday, the America Rising PAC launched an online campaign railing against Democrats for trying to block DeVos' nomination.
“By trying to block this extremely well-qualified nominee, Senate Democrats are once again putting the interests of their big labor allies ahead of the needs of millions of American kids trapped in the failing status quo,” said Brian Rogers, executive director of America Rising Squared. “Betsy DeVos is a critical part of the change America voted for this election, and we look forward to her serving with great distinction as Secretary of Education.”
DeVos' confirmation will be held Tuesday in Washington.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
