Betsy DeVos Visits Indianapolis Charter School on National School Tour

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos toured an Indianapolis charter school Tuesday on her annual national tour of schools that meet students’ needs in unique ways. Purdue Polytechnic High School aims to give students hands-on experiences to prepare them for life after high school.

At Purdue Polytechnic, students create their own schedules and design projects to fit their
curriculum. DeVos praised the school’s project-based learning style.

“I think the fact that kids are taking charge of their learning, are engaged and for a student to find a fit for them is so exciting and for me to be able to observe that was particularly gratifying,” DeVos says.

DeVos observed several classes at the school, which is currently located on the
fourth floor of Circle Centre Mall. She watched as students turned drawings into 3D models and built T-shirt cannons out of PVC pipes.

“I think it is a great approach to learning for a lot of kids,” DeVos says. “I know I wish I would have had some experiences like this when I was in high school. The hands-on, project-based learning really works for a lot of individuals. It’s a great option.”

This was the third stop on this year’s tour. The department’s deputy secretary also visited
the school last year.