Education Secretary DeVos’ Degrading Agenda Takes Center Stage During State of the Union Address
Contact Gabriella Landeros at 650-552-5324 or Claudia Briggs at 916-325-1550
Educators nationwide take ‘Fire DeVos’ Pledge
BURLINGAME – California Teachers Association President E. Toby Boyd released the following statement denouncing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ agenda, which took center stage during the State of the Union Address on Tuesday. The administration’s goal is to take public school funding and turn it into voucher programs, which would be degrading to California’s public schools.
“Last night, we saw what we knew all along, the Trump/DeVos administration continuing to undermine public schools, which are the bedrock of our country. If we’re serious about every child’s future, let’s focus on what works: Resourcing public schools so students have inviting classrooms, supported educators, small class sizes and wraparound services like health care, nutrition and after-school programs.
“All students deserve the opportunities and resources to succeed, but voucher programs like those in the Betsy DeVos agenda threaten students’ civil rights and widen educational inequity. Instead of moving forward, we are moving backwards with an unqualified and unfit Secretary of Education. Her dangerous agenda for voucher programs will siphon scarce resources from neighborhood public schools, hurting students and leaving them with fewer opportunities.
“Instead of voucher schemes that hurt students, let’s give our public schools the resources they need, smaller class sizes, and more student support services. After years of chronic underfunding, it’s time we put #SchoolsAndCommunitiesFirst for all of California.
“With this week marking the third anniversary of DeVos’ confirmation, CTA is proud to stand with the National Education Association in launching the ‘Fire DeVos’ pledge.
“From the moment DeVos was appointed, we knew she would be disastrous for students across the United States. She had no experience and an extensive agenda to privatize our public schools. Our fellow educator from Michigan, Cathy Boote, tells it best, as someone who experienced DeVos’ ineptitude firsthand. It’s time for her to go!”