education Secretary Miguel Cardona laid out his vision for reopening America’s education” target=”_blank”>schools<
Within the last month, a national parents’ group sent Cardona a letter outlining a variety of recommendations it wanted him to make for states in reopening. Shortly before that, Fox News Digital reported on an email indicating that Cardona solicited the controversial National School Boards Association (NSBA) letter that suggested parents might be engaging in domestic terrorism.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona participates in a roundtable discussion in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, on April 6, 2021.
(Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group/Daily Times)
The department has denied Cardona solicited the letter, which poured fuel onto an already raging debate over critical race theory, “equity” and so-called “anti-racism” within schools. In a letter this week, more than 100 conservative leaders requested his resignation.
On Thursday, Cardona called on the U.S. to not miss the opportunity to “re-imagine education.” He added that the country should “unapologetically address opportunity and achievement gaps that are pervasive in our country.”
“This means acknowledging that many of the students who have been underserved during the pandemic are the same ones who have had to deal with barriers to a high-quality education since well before COVID-19,” he said.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona gives the thumbs up to virtual students in Danielle Shalon’s seventh-grade math class at Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, on April 6, 2021.
(Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group/Daily Times)
“We can’t lose this moment – this chance for a reset in education – by going back to the same pre-pandemic strategies that didn’t address inequities for Latino, for Black, for Native students; for students from low-income backgrounds, or students from rural communities; for students with disabilities; students experiencing homelessness, or for English learners.”
“Instead, let’s do what America does best. Let’s turn crisis into opportunity.”
Among his many proposals was one to increase Title I funding, which provides federal money for low-income schools. He also voiced support for universal preschool, increasing mental health resources, raising reading levels, “honoring native languages and cultures,” and creating “more meaningful and authentic parent and family engagement.”
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Cardona devoted part of his speech to honoring teachers, whom he said “worked courageously to” reopen schools. “Let’s not just talk about honoring educators, let’s make sure they’re treated with the respect and the dignity they deserve,” he said.
“This means a livable wage, it means ongoing professional learning and development, supportive working conditions and a work environment where their voices are welcome as critical partners in our work to improve education. Moving forward, it’s on us to make sure education jobs are ones educators don’t want to leave and that people from all backgrounds want to pursue.”
