Eli Broad, billionaire philanthropist and charter school backer, urges senators to oppose DeVos
By Emma Brown February 1 at 6:45 PM
Eli Broad, a billionaire philanthropist from California and major backer of charter schools, is urging senators to oppose the nomination of Betsy DeVos as education secretary, saying that she is unqualified for the job.
“At the risk of stating the obvious, we must have a Secretary of Education who believes in public education and the need to keep public schools public,” Broad wrote in a letter Wednesday to Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.).
“With Betsy DeVos at the helm of the U.S. Department of Education, much of the good work that has been accomplished to improve public education for all of America’s children could be undone.”
Broad’s opposition to DeVos is notable in part because it illuminates the extent of the opposition movement.
Republicans have argued that Democrats are fighting against DeVos out of allegiance to teachers unions. Broad is a major Democratic booster. But he has used his wealth to promote charter schools in Los Angeles and cities nationwide, and could hardly be considered in the pocket of unions. In fact, unions have often attacked him, alleging that he is trying to undermine public education.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/02/01/eli-broad-billionaire-philanthropist-and-charter-school-backer-urges-senators-to-oppose-devos/?utm_term=.0a28ae44f78e&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1