Now that Joe Biden is the official president-elect, it is time for him to make good on his promises.
When Betsy DeVos became the United States Secretary of Education in 2017 under President Donald Trump, she was met with controversy. For one, she had never been an educator and for two it appeared as if she was committed to rolling back initiatives introduced during former President Barack Obama‘s administration such as Title IX which impacts how harassment accusations are handled in schools. Now that Biden is projected to be the next commander-in-chief, DeVos is out the door and many hope her policies will follow.
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Biden has made big promises on education. He claims that whoever replaces DeVos will be an educator, has proposed a college forgiveness plan and wants to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on preschool through college education spending, per The Washington Post.
DeVos “shifted the conversation around education in America to be focused on the unique needs of individual students,” instead of on “funding, buildings, systems, tests,” said an Education Department spokesperson, per Time magazine.
Biden often points out that his wife, Jill Biden, is an English professor. He has highlighted this as a strength for when he assumes office.
“Teaching isn’t just what she does — it’s who she is,” said Biden during his victory speech on Saturday. “For America’s educators, this is a great day: You’re going to have one of your own in the White House.”
Biden says he wants a diverse cabinet and many of the names being tossed around for the next secretary of education are people of color. One potential pick is Tony Thurmond, superintendent of public instruction in California. Rep. Jahana Hayes, a former national teacher of the year, is also amongst the discussion.
Rolling out Biden’s new agenda began Monday when he introduced scientists and experts that will assist him in turning his plans to combat the COVID-19 pandemic into an “action blueprint.”
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He also sought to provide advisement on “clear, consistent, effective national guidelines” for school re-openings in light of the coronavirus.
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