“We were extremely disappointed at what happened at the hearing last week for Elisabeth “Betsy” DeVos, President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Education”, Murray wrote in her letter to Alexander. “She said, ‘I have made a decision to stop taking offense that we are buying influence”. During her confirmation hearing, I asked Mrs. DeVos whether all schools that receive taxpayer funding should be held equally accountable for outcomes, particularly because President Trump has proposed allocating $20 billion to private schools in a nationwide voucher program.
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Charter schools could take students and money away for local public schools, said Rich D’Avanzo, a USA history teacher at Burnet Middle School in Union Township. To Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, she’s a much-needed outsider in education, whose lack of qualifications within the educational system ultimately benefits her by providing her with a fresh perspective.
Karen E. Magee is president of the 600,000-member New York State United Teachers.
A grassroots initiative, “Wear Red for Ed”, is encouraging people to wear red Wednesday to protest secretary of education nominee Betsy DeVos. Other than that, let Republicans come up with the votes for these extreme, corrupt, insane and/or unqualified nominees. Yes, he grants, it matters if the secretary of Education uses a bully pulpit to promote school choice. “There should not be a district of one mile square, without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the public expense of the people themselves”. If all Republicans on the committee vote for DeVos, there’s nothing to stop DeVos’ nomination from being sent to the full Senate for a vote. He said Democrats were having “a fit” over DeVos, despite her work to expand choice for disadvantaged children. Tax filings showed she sat on the board of her mother’s foundation for nearly two decades, a time in which the group gave more than $5 million to Focus on the Family. The students receiving special education services are among the most vulnerable citizens of this country and are worthy of the same opportunities for receiving an education that every other American citizen has.
Rather than focusing on fixing traditional public schools, DeVos spearheaded a second failing educational system. All objected to a DeVos confirmation. In the hands of new leadership, the report bolsters the argument that expanded aid to the private sector may be the best way to force these schools to measure up while giving inner city kids with real promise a chance to fulfill their dreams.
On ethics issues, Baldwin said it was “deeply troubling” DeVos didn’t “complete her ethics homework and address in a transparent and timely way” prior to the her confirmation hearing a report outlining potential conflicts of interests she may have as a result of her finances. She stated that she believes what is “fair” treatment should be “left to the states”, even if they are treated poorly in some states.
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Even though they disagree with her, Democrats should also promptly confirm Betsy DeVos.
