Friend,

Forty years ago today, President Jimmy Carter signed a bill into law that created the Department of Education—demonstrating that our children’s future was a priority as important as any other.

This fall, around 65 million students took a seat in the classrooms of a public school or university. I believe public education should give every single one of those students a shot at a successful future. But Education Secretary Betsy DeVos—someone who has never worked in a school—is doing her best to turn back the clock in every way imaginable.

Betsy DeVos is taking apart our education system piece by piece—and Mitch McConnell’s Senate is letting it happen. Add your name now to tell DeVos and Congress: Our students deserve so much better.

DeVos has no idea what public school students and teachers need—and it shows. In less than two years on the job, not only has she proposed slashing public education funding by 13.5%, but her priorities have also put our public schools at risk. Here’s just a sample:

• She attempted to strip teachers of collective bargaining rights.
• She gave more leeway to predatory for-profit colleges that disproportionately prey on veterans and active duty military members.
• She refused 99% of student loan forgiveness applications to a fund specifically earmarked to help hardworking Americans who’ve devoted years to public service.

We need leadership that will honor the vision of the Department of Education we founded 40 years ago today. As Kentucky’s next senator, and as the child of a high school teacher, I’ll hold our leaders accountable to pass policies that strengthen education—and I'll never vote to confirm someone like Betsy DeVos.

Join me today to tell DeVos and Congress: Every American deserves a shot at a quality education, and we’ll stand for nothing less.

Thank you,
Amy