Trump Nomination of Betsy DeVos

First and foremost, it is important for all MACC members and friends to understand that we are non-partisan and have pledged to work on behalf of our children regardless of administrative political bent, on the national, state and local level.  While we understand that many are left troubled by the election of President-Elect Trump, everyone needs to look for the bright spot in his campaign pledge to get rid of Common Core and return local control.   Trump has stated that he does not want a top-down, cookie-cutter, nationally-dictated education program.  If we can all bond for the benefit of our children, we can accomplish great things for them.

On Wednesday, President-Elect Donald Trump nominated Betsy DeVos to be the Secretary of Education.  While there are mixed reports as to Ms. DeVos’ support of Common Core, in her official August 2016 statement , DeVos declares that she is firmly against Common Core.  This appears to be a new understanding for DeVos in regards to federally-dictated standards with curriculum and testing that naturally follow.  We will have to watch her to see if indeed this new position is lasting.  However, DeVos’ record shows that she and her husband, Dick DeVos, through the Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation and various DeVos non-profits, have endeavored to promote nationalized standards.  In fact, DeVos’ involvement in promoting the nationalized standards’ movement goes back into the late 1980s.  Additionally, Ms. DeVos’ stance on school choice and vouchers is a concern and needs to be watched closely.   MACC hopes that the pledge of the President elect, and that of Ms. DeVos, hold true because the future of our country, our children and children’s education are at stake.

It is important for all the members of MACC to support us in helping to influence our local legislators to follow suit, and working towards removing us from the entanglement of federal control.  Despite which party or candidate you supported, our legislators need to understand that the repeal of Common Core was a national campaign issue, and its removal is an important topic that helped sway voters. As an example, candidates such as Jeb Bush and Mike Huckabee lost voter approval due to their overwhelming support of Common Core.   Under local control, it is not only your school board that needs your input and accountability, but our state legislature as well.  MACC needs your help in all areas.

We hope that you will stay tuned and help support us as MACC enters its 4th year of fighting for our children.  MACC will continue to inform you on all of the issues surrounding education, and asking for your help to further our message.  While MACC made some important strides last year in protecting student data privacy, we still face a challenge in returning true local education control to all citizens of Minnesota, and creating curriculum that returns Minnesota to the premier education state in the United States for all students, no matter how their zip code says they should perform.   A return to true local control is an important step in ensuring that our children are truly educated in the best manor possible.