Senate confirms CT’s Cardona for U.S. secretary of education
WASHINGTON — In a bipartisan tally, the U.S. Senate voted 64-33 Monday to confirm Miguel Cardona, who served as Connecticut’s education commissioner, to be secretary of education.
Cardona is expected to be sworn into the Presiden Joe Biden’s cabinet as soon as Tuesday.
Cardona has said his top priority will be helping schools reopen for inperson learning. Biden has set a goal of getting a majority of K-12 students taking classes in school five days a week by his 100th day in office, April 30.
“Now he will do great things for the cause of education in our country, not just Connecticut,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., ahead of the confirmation vote.
Cardona was the first Latino to serve as Connecticut’s
education commissioner. He started in that role in February 2020, just weeks before schools had to send students home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Over the next months, Cardona issued detailed guidance to schools on how to reopen for in-person learning this fall, but did not mandate schools bring students back to the classroom.
“Connecticut opened our schools faster than many people thought we could,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. “There is no one better suited to this job and this moment than Miguel Cardona.”
Cardona, 45, grew up in a Puerto Rican family in Meriden, where he later was a 4th grade classroom teacher, principal
and assistant superintendent. His family has organized the Puerto Rican festival in that town for several years.
On Wednesday, First Lady Jill Biden will visit Meriden, before heading to Waterford, Pennsylvania. It is expected that Cardona will join Dr. Biden during her visit, details for which have not yet been released by the White House.
“This is an incredible moment for Connecticut, as someone who was educated in our public schools and went on to lead a successful teaching career in those very schools has been confirmed to be our nation’s top education advisor,” said Gov. Ned Lamont. “I’m feeling bittersweet emotions today knowing that our administration is saying farewell to someone who has been a wonderful commissioner, but we’re also gaining ally on the national stage.”
Blumenthal held up Cardona as an example of the “American dream” on Wednesday. Cardona was raised in a public housing project and learned English in his public school. He attended a technical high school and went on to get a masters in bilingual and bicultural education before getting his doctorate in Education.
When he became a principal in Meriden at age 28, he was the youngest principal in Connecticut, Murphy said.
“His climb looks meteoric and miraculous but it was based on hard work,” said Blumenthal, who repeatedly mispronounced his name. “He has seen first hand in his own life how education can transform futures.”
On Feb. 11, a Senate committee voted 17-5 to advance the Cardona’s nomination. A few Republican senators pushed Cardona on how he would handle the participation of transgender students in athletics. Cardona said schools have a responsibility to create opportunities for transgender students to participate, while some Republicans voiced objections to people born male participating in women’s athletics.