(PatriotSpotlight.org) – Amidst heated debates over educational policies and priorities, the role of Secretary of Education has emerged as a significant point of interest among conservative groups and supporters of former President Donald Trump.
President Joe Biden’s 2023 remarks, in which he claimed there was “no such thing as someone else’s child,” as the children of the American nation are “all our children”. Concerns over the Democrat approach to the matter have led to a slew of suggestions for a contender to head up a possible second Trump administration’s Department of Education.
For some time, education has been a controversial topic with debates centering on issues including Title IX, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and school choice. Angela Morabito, spokesperson for the Defense of Freedom Institute, warned that it was “not a secret” that the U.S. continues to lag educationally despite spending more per student on the sector than almost any other country on the planet.
The speculation over the role of the Education Secretary comes amid broader discussions on the direction of U.S. education. From K-12 to college, policies around critical race theory (CRT), gender identity, and other politically charged subjects have ramped up. Trump’s possible plans for the Secretary of Education role include addressing these issues, particularly focusing on school choice and dismantling DEI initiatives. In December 2023, Trump’s campaign released a 12-step plan for K-12 education, indicating his administration would prioritize “curriculum transparency and a form of universal school choice,” and seek to “keep men out of women’s sports.”
Grassroots activists and key figures in conservative circles are positioning themselves for consideration. Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, told conservative media she was interested in the role. Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, known for her school choice advocacy has also been floated as a candidate, as has a slew of Republican state officials like Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
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