A Primer on Miguel Cardona, Biden’s Schooling Secretary Decide on

What expertise would Connecticut Training Commissioner carry to the role of U.S. Secretary of Schooling? And what problems will he experience if the Senate confirms him for the position?

President-elect Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint Cardona very last thirty day period, immediately after weeks of speculation about who he would pick out to lead the Education Division.

In this Fb dwell online video, Education Week runs by what we know about Cardona and what will probably be a diligently adopted affirmation course of action. Look at out the dialogue and then stop by some of our suitable stories connected below.

A “Public Faculty Educator” for Education and learning Secretary
Biden promised to appoint a “public school educator,” in element to draw a contrast to present-day Schooling Secretary Betsy DeVos, who has been criticized for her deficiency of K-12 practical experience. Cardona has been a teacher, principal, district administrator, and condition schools’ main.

Cardona’s Approach to Reopening Educational facilities
In Connecticut, Cardona inspired universities to stay open up for in-human being mastering, but he did not involve them to do so. At his introductory speech, Cardona reported educational facilities require to deal with persistent inequity, even as they confront this most fast challenge. His solution suits with Biden’s system to press for a lot more instruction aid funding, and to ramp up screening and advice to aid educational facilities mitigate the danger of spreading COVID-19 in their structures.

How Biden’s Administration Will Approach Training
Biden has promised his method to administration will sharply depart from DeVos, who has criticized lecturers unions and standard general public colleges and aggressively pushed university decision and tax-credit scholarship programs.

Some of his priorities may also depart from those of previous President Barack Obama, whose administration encouraged states to improve their discovering specifications and adopt new assessments and university enhancement strategies.

Cardona’s Initial Priorities
If confirmed, Cardona will have a several urgent problems on his desk. Amongst them: How will he handle condition school officials’ ask for for adaptability on assessments and accountability this yr? And how will he aid colleges tackle considerations about interrupted finding out for learners, especially vulnerable groups like learners with disabilities?

The Response to Biden’s Decide on
As we’ve documented, training groups across the ideological spectrum expressed support for Cardona when Biden introduced him past thirty day period. But that assist could be examined as he tackles difficult, polarizing troubles like responding to the COVID-19 disaster.