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Statement on the Confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education
WASHINGTON (February 7, 2017) – In response to today’s Senate vote confirming Betsy DeVos as the new U.S. Secretary of Education, Collaborative for Student Success Executive Director Jim Cowen has issued the following statement:
“We are encouraged to hear Secretary DeVos has pledged to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as written by Congress, and, as a supporter of high standards, that she has acknowledged that ESSA gives states the right to determine what academic standards to use, free of influence from the federal government.
“As states embrace the greater autonomy ESSA provides and finalize their plans for submission, we sincerely hope they continue to set the bar high for all of their students, and ensure that schools are being held accountable for student progress.
“We look forward to working with Secretary DeVos to focus on preparing all young people for success.”
About the Collaborative for Student Success:
The Collaborative for Student Success is a non-profit organization working to improve public education through a commitment to high standards for all students. The Collaborative believes that state, district and local efforts to implement rigorous, comparable education standards and meaningful assessments are an important and necessary step to ensure all students are prepared to succeed in life after high school – whether that be college or a career.
About the Collaborative for Student Success
At our core, we believe leaders at all levels have a role to play in ensuring success for K-12 students. From ensuring schools and teachers are equipped with the best materials to spotlighting the innovative and bold ways federal recovery dollars are being used to drive needed changes, the Collaborative for Student Success aims to inform and amplify policies making a difference for students and families.
To recover from the most disruptive event in the history of American public schools, states and districts are leveraging unprecedented resources to make sure classrooms are safe for learning, providing students and teachers with the high-quality instructional materials they deserve, and are rethinking how best to measure learning so supports are targeted where they’re needed most.