Wednesday, January 18, 2017

 Betsy DeVos Just Flunked Her Senate Test - The Nation


From guns in schools to accountability for for-profit colleges, the nominee for Secretary of Education either could not or chose not to answer most serious policy questions.

If confirmed as secretary of education, would Betsy DeVos promise not to strip funding from public schools? “I look forward, if confirmed, to working with you to talk about how we address the needs of all parents and all students,” the Republican donor and activist told a Senate committee in response.

What are her proposals for making childcare affordable? “I would look forward to working with you,” DeVos responded. 

Does she support transparency around student loans? “I certainly will look forward to working with you and your colleagues.”

Do guns have a place in public schools? That’s “best left to locales and states to decide,” she said, adding that they might be necessary to ward off grizzly bear attacks. 

There were plenty of moments in Tuesday’s hearing that betrayed DeVos’s lack of preparation for the country’s top education post, but none more than her stumble over protections for disabled students. Should all schools that receive taxpayer money be required to provide an equal education to students with disabilities? “I think that is certainly worth discussion,” DeVos said.

DeVos appeared unfamiliar with (or uncommitted to) the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, a major civil rights law that requires publicly-funded schools to accommodate disability.

The full article is available here