(TRENTON) – Assembly Education Chairwoman Marlene Caride (D-Passaic/Bergen) released the following statement Tuesday after the U.S. Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education with the help of Vice President Pence’s tiebreaking vote:
“Today’s vote by the U.S. Senate is very disappointing. I commend U.S. Sens. Menendez and Booker for doing the right thing and standing up for New Jersey children and their futures, but it’s distressing to see so many Republican senators put politics ahead of country.
“Betsy DeVos is in no way qualified to serve as education secretary. Her lack of knowledge about education policy and her lack of experience with public schools make her unfit for this role. Charter schools and private schools have their place, but public schools offer great opportunity to all children. Our public school system always needs improvement and reform, but it cannot simply be abandoned.
“We need an education secretary who will work tirelessly to enhance our public schools, not forsake them. We need an education secretary with expertise on all the latest innovative education techniques and policies, not one who struggles to explain even the most basic education ideas. We need a firm commitment to building a better future for all children, not politicians who put politics above the best interest of our nation’s children.”