WASHINGTON (AP) – Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday pledged support for magnet schools in a bid to repair ties with proponents of public education in the wake of a bruising confirmation battle, but also slammed her critics for rejecting innovation and change.
In one of her first public speeches since taking office last week, DeVos praised magnet schools for showing strong academic results, combating segregation and striving for equity.
“There is amble opportunity to really highlight the tremendous successes of so many magnet schools across the country,” DeVos told a room full of teachers and advocates. “It’s clear that the schools that you represent are doing a tremendous job on behalf of students.”
DeVos, a billionaire Republican donor, was been vilified by her critics during the confirmation process as an enemy of public education for her many years of promoting charter and private schools. But she said Wednesday that the type school is less important to her than what the school gives to its students.
“I am really agnostic as to the delivery mechanism as long as we are focused on what a child needs and what is best for each individual child,” DeVos said.