Betsy DeVos: School choice should extend beyond charter schools

Donald Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos spoke today to 4,500 educators at a national charter schools conference, urging them to endorse all forms of school choice, including vouchers and tax credits for private school scholarships. (Photo: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools)

Donald Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos spoke today to 4,500 educators at a national charter schools conference, urging them to endorse all forms of school choice, including vouchers and tax credits for private school scholarships. (Photo: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools)

Speaking at a national gathering of charter school advocates today, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos warned them not to become another education bureaucracy resistant to innovation and other forms of school choice.

“No one has a monopoly on innovation. No one has a monopoly on creativity. No one has a monopoly on knowing how every child learns,” said DeVos at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Conference in Washington, D.C. “Charters’ success should be celebrated, but it’s equally important not to become the man.”

DeVos urged the 4,500 conference attendees to endorse school choice in all forms, including private school scholarship tax credits and vouchers, both of which have been criticized for diverting funds from public schools. ”Embracing more change, more choices and more innovation will improve education opportunities and outcomes for all students,” she said.

>> To read DeVos' full comments, go to the AJC Get Schooled blog.