President-elect Donald Trump announced Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of the Department of Education. Shortly after the nomination, DeVos put up a statement on her website, very recently created, explaining her position on common core. It was a huge surprise to the Stop Common Core in Michigan team and MANY in the grassroots to read her claim that she was AGAINST Common Core. She wrote,
Q: There’s been a lot of talk about Common Core. Can you provide some straight talk on this topic?
Certainly. I am not a supporter—period.
I do support high standards, strong accountability, and local control. When Governors such as John Engler, Mike Huckabee, and Mike Pence were driving the conversation on voluntary high standards driven by local voices, it all made sense.
Have organizations that I have been a part of supported Common Core? Of course. But that’s not my position. Sometimes it’s not just students who need to do their homework.
However, along the way, it got turned into a federalized boondoggle.
Above all, I believe every child, no matter their zip code or their parents’ jobs, deserves access to a quality education.
At Stop Common Core in Michigan we have been working hard to repeal and replace common core in Michigan for many years. DeVos has never contacted us to ask how she may assist us in our efforts to stop common core.
We will be posting a formal statement regarding our thoughts on her appointment on Monday. But for now, here are some links to posts we have previously written about our experience with DeVos and Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP) along with links from others around the internet.
Articles about the DeVos nomination
Donald Trump nominates pro-common core Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education
America is getting bamboozled by Betsy DeVos
Jeb Bush Praises Donald Trump’s Choice of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education (this article quotes Karen Braun and Tom McMillin)
(More links will be added as time permits.)
Previous posts about DeVos and GLEP
GLEP and DeVos a “primary” influence.
GLEP endorsements and why they matter.
What the state, Gates, and DeVos want they are (NOT ) going to get!
Together we can defeat Common Core and the push for a P-20 cradle to grave education system for workforce development. Stay tuned, this story is NOT over.