FOLLOW US

Florida August 30, 2017 3 mins read

DeVos Visits Florida Schools – Candidates React

Florida ı By Sebastian Ponce de Leon

0 Comments

636259627684703178-818A5489

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visited Florida schools in Tallahassee on Tuesday. Her office called this trip a “learning” experience. The two schools she visited were Holy Comforter Episcopal School and Florida State University Schools. One is a religious private school, the other is a charter school.

Arguably Trump’s most controversial cabinet pick, DeVos is a major supporter of voucher programs and charter schools.

“I think they're examples of what a lot of schools should aspire to be and look for, opportunities to become more innovative,” DeVos told reporters after touring Holy Comforter. “I think that we need to recognize the fact that far too many schools have been stuck in a mode that is basically approaching things that have been done very similarly to 100 years ago. And the world today is much different. And we need to be acknowledging that and moving toward ways that really engage students and take their curiosity and really fire it up and stoke the curiosity to continue to learn.”

Mayor Andrew Gillum (left) and former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham (right)
Her visit did not go unnoticed by candidates for the Democratic Nomination for Florida Governor.

On Twitter, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said “DeVos’ record of supporting for-profit charter school execs speaks louder than any photo-op," he said. "We won't be distracted by her political stunts.”

Former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham took the opportunity to renew her call to “end the education industry” in the state. “Betsy DeVos’ for-profit approach to public education is just flat-out wrong for Florida,” she said.

"DeVos, Rick Scott and the politicians in Tallahassee have transformed our public schools into an education industry," she continued. "It is an education industry that last year forced our children to take more than 3.6 million standardized tests, and forced our educators to teach to those tests. An education industry that assigns public schools arbitrary grades that humiliate students."

Actually, Gov. Rick Scott, along with many conservatives in Tallahassee, strongly oppose common core. The federal bureaucracy - which oversees our nation’s public schools - is greatly responsible for the ever-changing curriculum, deluge of standardized tests, and crony capitalist influence on textbooks and other school resources. As Democrats, both Graham and Gillum are likely in favor of more federal control over education.

DeVos called Florida's approach to education a “role model” for the nation.

“I think Florida has continued to be an innovator in approaching education and meeting the needs of students,” DeVos also said.

She praised the state's approach to education through the Florida Tax Scholarship Program. The Florida Supreme Court recently upheld this voucher-like initiative as constitutional.

The program allows corporations to claim tax credits for donations made to organizations that subsidize private school tuition for low-income students.

Step Up for Students is one such organization. They've conducted research which shows that the number of students relying on tax-credit scholarships has reached close to 102,000 kids.

The Florida Legislature is expected to expand eligibility and enrollment in the program, following favorable results.

Previous Article

President Trump and First Lady Melania Visit Texas Amid Floods

Read More
40 Posts

Sebastian Ponce de Leon

Sebastian is a native Floridian who holds a Bachelors of Science in Political Science from the Florida State University. He has worked as a Deputy Campaign Manager for a high-profile Florida Congressional race as well as within the Florida Legislature and the Governor's office.

Discussion

No comments yet. Be the first to join the discussion!

Don’t Miss It
America October 23, 2026
SpaceX, Tesla Merger: Boards Launch Review…

The possibility of a SpaceX, Tesla merger has moved beyond…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 23, 2026
Steve McBee $7.1M Insurance Fraud Case:…

Steve McBee Sr., the patriarch of the reality television series…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 23, 2026
Connor Hellebuyck Traded to New Jersey…

The New Jersey Devils have made a major move to…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 23, 2026
Education Department Drops PSLF Challenge, Delivering…

Federal student loan borrowers have secured a significant victory after…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 23, 2026
Humana and UnitedHealthcare Cancel Medicare Advantage…

Nearly 1 million Americans are facing a shake-up in their…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 23, 2026
Lawyers Could Collect $1.27 Billion in…

Outside lawyers in the Meta privacy case could collect up…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 23, 2026
Plutonium Pit Production Faces Safety and…

WASHINGTON — The Energy Department has approved full construction of…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 23, 2026
Wall Street Rattled: Nasdaq Plunges 2.6%…

NEW YORK — A fresh wave of doubt about the…

By – Derek Johnson
America October 23, 2026
Judge Orders Trump to Sit for…

MIAMI — President Donald Trump must sit for a sworn…

By – Derek Johnson
America October 22, 2026
Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further…

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will not require additional…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 22, 2026
Six Women Testify in Russell Brand…

LONDON — Six women have testified in the Russell Brand…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 22, 2026
Websites Go Dark as AI Uncovers…

The PHP security crisis has pushed government websites offline and…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 21, 2026
El Nino Could Reach Historic Strength,…

GENEVA — El Nino, a powerful climate pattern that warms…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 21, 2026
News Overload Can Fuel Anxiety and…

News keeps people informed about wars, political conflict, public safety…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 21, 2026
Atlanta Rapper Indicted in Alleged $4.6…

ATLANTA — Shawtey Dred, the social media persona of Atlanta…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 21, 2026
Musk and Trump Have a Starlink…

Opinion | Starlink restrictions in Ukraine have exposed a problem Elon Musk…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 21, 2026
Texas Trans Texts Spark Election Propaganda…

News Analysis | Texas voters began casting early ballots Monday,…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 20, 2026
California Ballots: DOJ Cites Charges Against…

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is citing charges against 28…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 21, 2026
Meta Stock in Focus as Earnings,…

Meta delivered a powerful revenue performance in its third-quarter earnings…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 21, 2026
Pantheon $6B Secondaries Fund Marks Firm’s…

Private markets investor Pantheon has secured $6 billion in capital…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 21, 2026
TDI Launches Insurance Fraud Task Force…

The Texas Department of Insurance has launched a coordinated push…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 21, 2026
Children’s Mercy Insurance Coverage Changes: Kansas…

Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City will no longer participate…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 21, 2026
BioWare Closing: EA Shuts Down Legendary…

Electronic Arts is reshaping its videogame empire in a sweeping…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 20, 2026
Auto-Owners Insurers Verdict: Jury Awards Warehouse…

A North Carolina federal jury has awarded nearly $2 million…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 20, 2026
Extreme Heat Is Spreading and Lasting…

An extreme heat event lasting 367 days touched nearly 85%…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 16, 2026
HealthSplash VP 18 Months Sentencing Rewards…

Cooperation can shave years off a prison term, but it…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 16, 2026
Daylight Saving Time Returns Nov. 1…

Americans will turn their clocks back one hour on Nov.…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 16, 2026
California Identifies New York Life, Aetna,…

Key Takeaways   California’s Department of Insurance maintains an official…

By – Samuel Lopez
America October 16, 2026
Three Children, Teacher Killed in Oregon…

BEND, Ore. — An Oregon school shooting killed three children…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 15, 2026
Trump Scraps Hegseth’s Execution Livestream After…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump canceled the planned execution livestream…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 19, 2026
Information Ecosystem: Five Tools to Detect…

The information ecosystem is increasingly vulnerable to misinformation. There are…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 19, 2026
An Airman Died After a Pregame…

By Michallie K. Harrison | Opinion Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson’s…

By – Michallie K Harrison
America October 16, 2026
NFL Player $300M Hip Surgery Lawsuit…

Athletes bet their bodies on surgeons the way pilots bet…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 16, 2026
Russian Drone Strikes Hit American Businesses…

Russian drone strikes against American-linked businesses in Ukraine are raising…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 11, 2026
AP Poll Top 25: Georgia Claims…

Georgia has reclaimed the top spot in the AP Poll…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 10, 2026
A.J. Armstrong: Former NFL Player’s Son…

 HOUSTON — Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong Jr., the son of former…

By – Jackie Allen

No posts found.

No posts found.

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter