Ryan Ray
Former Gov. Jeb Bush is not one to stay out of public life for too long. On Tuesday, his plans for what comes next after departing from the 2016 GOP presidential primary came into focus.
Bush will again assume the reins as president and chairman of the Excellence in Education Foundation board of directors, an organization he created in 2007. In doing so, Bush takes over for former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.
“One of the greatest challenges and opportunities we have in America today is to create a 21st century education system that ensures all students have the skills, teachers and educational options they need to succeed in life,” said Bush, known in Tallahassee as an ardent fighter for for-profit charter schools and against teachers’ unions.
“Too many children right now are failed by a deeply flawed bureaucratic system, but I’m optimistic about the future because I’ve seen the great results produced by states across the country. It is an honor to rejoin ExcelinEd as we continue to support states in bringing choice, innovation and accountability to the classroom. I am thankful to Dr. Rice and this exceptional board for their leadership over the past year,” said Bush.
Rice served as chair of the foundation’s board of directors starting in 2015. She will remain on the board.
Bush also takes over as head of the ExcelinEd in Action, an affiliated 501(c)(4) organization with a more political bent. Under federal tax rules, such groups need not disclose their donors, unlike 501(c)(3)s like the Excellence in Education Foundation.
Bush also maintains a government consultancy practice under the moniker Jeb Bush & Associates.
