A year after ascending, DeVos hails shrinking of the Education Department

The following article by Moriah Balingit was posted on the Washington Post website February 7, 2018:

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos joins President Trump in the Oval Office in September, when he signed a memorandum to expand access to science, technology, engineering and math education. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos proclaimed this week that her proudest accomplishments in her first year in office were shrinking the role of the agency, rolling back Obama-era initiatives and erasing outdated regulations.

The secretary reflected on her tenure a year after she was installed in the post, following a trial-by-fire confirmation. Last year, the Senate confirmed her by the narrowest margin possible — with Vice President Pence casting a tie-breaking vote to make her education secretary. It was the first time a vice president had to vote to confirm a Cabinet member.

Her rocky confirmation process would portend a tumultuous year, inspiring protest after protest and riling public education advocates. Continue reading “A year after ascending, DeVos hails shrinking of the Education Department”