In response to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s keynote remarks at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Denver, DNC spokesperson Vedant Patel released the following statement:

“Betsy DeVos has shown herself to be all-in on ALEC’s dangerous agenda. She led The American Federation for Children, which funded ALEC and pushed its disastrous policies. Now, instead of advocating for our students and teachers, as Secretary of Education she will be preaching to the choir for the corporatization of public education and other priorities of Trump’s dangerous agenda, which all but ensures that hard working American families get left behind. Americans deserve a Secretary of Education who is a firm believer in public education, not a billionaire with a clear record of promoting for-profit and online schools with zero oversight or accountability.”

The organization DeVos founded and led, The American Federation for Children, has long been listed as a financial contributor to ALEC

“DeVos’ ties to ALEC and K12 Inc are longstanding. The organization she founded and led, the American Federation for Children, has long been listed as a financial contributor to ALEC.”

ALEC’s focus on private schools fits perfectly with DeVos’ education agenda

“But regardless of political persuasion, there are two points most would agree on: ALEC is successful at influencing policy in statehouses, and its focus on private school choice dovetails perfectly with DeVos’ education priorities.”

ALEC wrote to DeVos supporting The A-PLUS Act, which would let states get around federal accountability programs: 

“And support for truly transformative approaches like those found in the A-PLUS Act would finally put power back into the hands of states and end Washington’s failed one -size-fits-all approach to education.”

The New York Times: “Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Education Pick, Has Steered Money From Public Schools”

“For nearly 30 years, as a philanthropist, activist and Republican fund-raiser, she has pushed to give families taxpayer money in the form of vouchers to attend private and parochial schools”