By a 64 to 33 vote, the Senate confirmed Miguel Cardona, Connecticut’s former education commissioner, to be the Secretary of Education, the Washington Post reports.
Cardona will jump into the position as school districts around the country struggle with the goal of reopening as the coronavirus pandemic lingers across the country. President Joe Biden has set a goal of reopening a majority of schools to at least one day of in-person classes per week. The American Recovery Act bill, passed by the House this weekend and currently before the Senate, allots $170 billion to help disinfect and prepare schools for reopening.
Born in Puerto Rico to parents living poverty, Cardona was the first in his family to attend college, where he studied education. He went on to get his master’s degree and doctorate in education. He started his career as an elementary school teacher before becoming a principal and a school system administrator. He takes over as US Secretary of Education from Betsy DeVos, an heiress who had her degree in business economics.