In a vote late yesterday night, Acting Secretary John B. King, Jr. was confirmed by the Senate for the permanent role in a 49-40 vote.

King has been acting secretary ever since previous Education Secretary Arne Duncan resigned, and it was initially thought that he would remain in this role.

Things changed, however, when the Senate education committee urged the White House at submit a nomination for King as the permanent role out of concern for the impending need for proper implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

"Alexander encouraged senators to vote for King, even if he was not their first choice for the position. Alexander said a confirmed education secretary is critical to helping carry out the Every Student Succeeds Act, approved in December. The law overhauls No Child Left Behind and gives states and local school districts more power over primary and secondary education,” said UPI.com.

While King has won unexpected bipartisan support, he still has his fair share of critics that spoke out against his nomination leading up to the vote.

A letter backed by several well-known education advocates urging the Senate to deny King’s nomination circulated last week.

The letter, written by 20-year-old education advocate and author Nikhil Goyal received the backing of education advocates like Carol Burris and Diane Ravitch and focused on King’s time as New York Education Commissioner.

Despite King "[being] a controversial figure in New York education policy, [he] helped open multiple charter schools in New York City through Uncommon Schools, a nonprofit charter group with dozens of schools in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts,” said UPI.com.

He’s also favored to help strongly implement ESSA.

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Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

3/15/2016