When Bush was governor of Florida, he writes, the state grew its number of charter schools and instituted a voucher program; competition between public, charter, and private schools led to measurable improvements in public school performance.
Advertisement
DeVos and her organization – the American Federation for Children – advocate for “school choice”, or more federal funding to be channeled to private and charter schools.
“Too many parents are denied access to the full range of options … choices that many of us here in this room have exercised for our own children”, writes DeVos, who herself attended and sent her own children to private schools in MI. More importantly, she will empower parents with greater choices and a stronger voice over their children’s education.
“We’re still going to go into the classroom and do what we need to do, because we know what’s best for students”, she says.
If DeVos is confirmed, she will oversee a department with 4,400 employee and a billion budget.
“Every child in America deserves to be in a safe environment that is free from discrimination”, says Ms. DeVos, a MI billionaire and GOP mega-donor. She served multiple terms as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party and held several other positions within the GOP.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is set to take up DeVos’ nomination on Tuesday. Local teachers union officials said they planning a rally for this Thursday near City Hall.
“The nature of how charter schools are authorized and permitted to operate is very political”, Eller said. “And she seems at best skeptical of that”.
HASSAN: Well, look, one of the foundations of our democracy is that all of our children deserve access to quality public education, regardless of their personal circumstances.
Ms. DeVos did not respond to requests for comment for this article. “The status quo is not acceptable”.
We’re a laughingstock in national education circles, and a pariah among reputable charter school operators, who have not opened schools in Detroit because of the wild West nature of the educational landscape here.
At the public school level, school choice also accomplishes the key element that economist Milton Friedman said was necessary to reform the public school system – it changes the incentive. About 35 million students are in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Tens of thousands went to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, records show. Vouchers might make sense in other states, but not in California.
But critics point out DeVos has no experience teaching, working in a school district, or leading a large organization. The grant helps offset some of those costs of opening charter schools. Five of the Republicans on the committee have received more than $250,000 between them from DeVos and her family. Furthermore, there is not conclusive proof that private schools outperform America’s public schools as a rule, and often the coupling of reduced oversight, poor financial accountability, and little transparency damages student learning in favor of higher profits. Student performance has declined across MI and almost half of all its charter schools rank at the bottom of America’s schools. That approach does not rely on children attending school in or near the neighborhoods where they live, which has traditionally been the model for US public education.
Advertisement
Sen. Roger Wicker said in a statement, “Betsy DeVos is a capable leader, dedicated to improving education throughout our nation. This includes a demonstrated commitment to advancing equity in education, promoting racial and socioeconomic school diversity, and reducing harsh school disciplinary practices that push children out of school”, said Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Educational Fund. That’s why we have an obligation as educators, parents, allies, and lawmakers to do everything we can to ensure all kids feel safe, welcome, and supported in our public schools.
