Betsy DeVos, Religion and Taxpayer Dollars for Private School Education
Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary has deep religious roots and a strong commitment to private school education.
BY: MONIQUE JUDGE
Posted: November 28, 2016
President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that billionaire philanthropist Betsy DeVos was his choice for education secretary.
DeVos, a conservative activist, has no professional experience in schools, and she is known politically for pushing private school voucher programs—which, as the Washington Post describes, is a controversial position within public school circles. DeVos has spent millions of dollars pushing to expand voucher programs that give families taxpayer dollars to pay for private and religious schools.
DeVos, 58, has deep ties to the Christian Reform community in Michigan and is herself a product of religious schools. She graduated from Calvin College, a Christian Reform school named after Protestant reformer John Calvin, and as the Post reports, the DeVos name is well-known within the church.
She founded and serves as chairman of the American Federation of Children and its associated political arm, and she has used that platform to support candidates who endorse vouchers and charter schools. She also uses that platform to attack candidates who do not support vouchers and charter schools.
http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2016/11/betsy-devos-supports-taxpayer-dollars-for-private-education/