U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has shown no signs of leaving her post, contrary to media reports:
Betsy DeVos haters can rejoice it seems: The secretary is planning to resign from Trump’s cabinet, according to a much-shared Salon story.
But it’s not true — there is no indication that DeVos is planning to quit.
The story, originally published on the progressive site Alternet, claims in its headline that “Officials expect DeVos to resign from Trump administration.” A piece for the website Raw Story also made a similar claim.
As of this morning, the Salon version had racked up over 250,000 shares on Facebook. Prominent people have posted it on Twitter, including American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten, who described it as “breaking news,” and an Ohio congresswoman.
In fact, the article does not rely on any original reporting, but simply draws from a lengthy Politico profile of DeVos, focusing on the constraints she has hit as head of the Department of Education.
It seems the Salon writers are spewing wishful thinking as fact, and turning fiction into a narrative they hope will come true – much like they do with every story they publish on education choice and public schools.
SOURCE: Chalkbeat.org
IN THIS ISSUE:
- NEW HAMPSHIRE: New Hampshire is on the verge of establishing education savings accounts, and the governor is urging lawmakers to get it done.
- NEBRASKA: Nebraska will see at least three school choice bills introduced next session.
- COLORADO: Anti-school choice candidates win in Colorado’s big school board race.
Common Core and Curriculum Watch
- BIG ED TECH: Getting technology in our classrooms is the next goal of Silicon Valley, reports Truth in American Education.
- SEX ED: Abstinence-based sex ed is a thing of the past in New York.
- GYM CLASS: Upstate New York schools are getting creative with gym class, ditching running laps for kayaking and other fun activities.
- ETHNIC STUDIES: Texas is considering approving “ethnic studies” courses.
- WEINGARTEN: President Trump is a fan of American Federation of Teachers leader Randi Weingarten, reports The Washington Post.
- BULLET-PROOF: A private school in Florida is selling devices to make backpacks bullet-proof.
- MIAMI: Miami-Dade teachers union members agree to a contract that awards bonuses based on merit.
Teresa Mull is a policy advisor for education and an editor at The Heartland Institute.
