What Betsy DeVos might bring to the Department of Education
The nominee for secretary of education has a long history of funding school-choice efforts and charter schools in Michigan.
President-Elect Donald Trump's pick for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, is, like many of his cabinet nominees, a controversial figure. A school-choice advocate and influential Michigan philanthropist, DeVos has a background unlike that of recent secretaries of education.
"Usually, presidents will choose someone who's been a governor, or maybe a state schools chief, or maybe a top education aide of theirs, to run the Department of Education," said EdWeek reporter Alyson Klein in an interview for this week's podcast. "Betsy DeVos has been an advocate and major political donor... but her background is really nontraditional for an education secretary."
DeVos's critics say she wants to dismantle the public-school system. Supporters assert she's going to challenge the education establishment.
Listen to this week's podcast to hear Klein's take on how DeVos might influence public education - if she's confirmed (spoiler alert: Klein says she'll most likely get confirmed).