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.

Trump's education secretary's plans for reforming U.S. education revolve around charter schools and vouchers.

“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.

About the Author

Featured

Aerial photo shows part of the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area, Thursday, January 31, 2025, in Dawsonville. Atlanta's 10,000-acre tract of forest is one part of the 25,500 acre WMA managed by the state as public recreation land. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC