John,

When it comes to back-to-school and reopening campuses for in-person instruction, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is actively ignoring the experts and science. Instead, she chooses to lead Trump's charge to reopen all schools this fall — despite surging coronavirus infections throughout the country.

As an educator and parent, I know how important in-person instruction is. Being in school is a critical part of students' development, and teachers want to be back in the classroom as soon as possible — but health and safety is paramount during a global pandemic.

I'm disgusted by this administration's lack of regard for the lives of students, teachers, and staff. DeVos is supposed to be putting the safety and education of our children first — not Trump's political agenda.

That's why today, I'm proud to join a coalition of progressive groups and lawmakers to demand Betsy DeVos resign from her post. Will you add your name and join me?

DeVos' plan to reopen schools isn't much of a plan at all: cram kids into classrooms in the middle of a pandemic without a plan and hope educators go along with it. When pressed for details on this "plan," she provided no answers for what additional resources schools would have to maintain safety, how schools might deal with a possible outbreak, and placed that responsibility on the institutions themselves.

In addition to threatening the health of millions of children, DeVos has shown time and time again that she is too unqualified and too dangerous to serve as Secretary of Education. She's cut funding for childhood literacy programs, rolled back protections for children of color and LGBTQ students, allowed schools to use federal money to buy guns, and more.

Now she plans to put our children and educators in the center of the coronavirus pandemic. Join me today to demand that Betsy DeVos render her resignation as Secretary of Education immediately.

In solidarity,

Jamaal Bowman