DeVos on Accountability and the Right to an Education

Last updated on: January 18, 2017 at 9:23 am by Libby Anne

DeVos on Accountability and the Right to an Education 2017-01-18T09:23:34-04:00 Libby Anne

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

DeVos’s confirmation hearings are this week. DeVos, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, has come in for a lot of criticism given her lack of experience with public schools (she has never attended, sent a child to, or worked at a public school) and her commitment to public charter schools and voucher programs. DeVos has refused to say that she supports public schools, and is a strong advocate of diverting public monies away from the public schools. She has also suggested that public schools are de facto inappropriate for the education Christian children.

During her confirmation hearings, DeVos had this to say of accountability:

Kaine: “If confirmed will you insist upon equal accountability in any K-12 school or educational program that receives taxpayer funding whether public, public charter or private?”

DeVos: “I support accountability.”

Kaine: “Equal accountability?”

DeVos: “I support accountability.”

Kaine: “Is that a yes or a no?”

DeVos: “I support accountability.”

Kaine: “Do you not want to answer my question?”

DeVos: “I support accountability.”

Kaine: “Let me ask you this. I think all schools that receive taxpayer funding should be equally accountable. Do you agree?”

DeVos: “Well they don’t, they are not today.”

Kaine: “Well, I think they should. Do you agree with me?

DeVos: “Well no . . . ”

As I’ve noted in the past, one of the biggest concerns I have with charter schools, and with voucher funding for private schools, is the lack of accountability frequently in place for these schools. There are states that do not require private schools to receive any form of accreditation. Heck, some states don’t even have a state accreditation system for private schools. Other states—DeVos’s own Michigan in particular—require very little of charter schools in terms of accountability. In some states, charter schools have skimmed state money off the top, providing little in the way of goods and services for their students.

A quick review of state voucher laws suggests that many (though not all) states with vouchers require participating public schools to have state accreditation, or other standards. This accountability question isn’t something Kaine dreamed up out of thin air; it is a central question in the expansion of public funding of privately run schools. DeVos could have discussed her views, outlining what accountability she thinks should (and should not) be in place for privately run schools that receive public education funds. This is the sort of thing the senators who will vote on her confirmation need to know in order to make an informed choice. But she refused.

Here is another concerning segment from the hearings:

Kaine asked her if she believes that all schools that receive federal funding — whether public, public charter or private — should be required to meet the requirements of IDEA.

She responded: “I think they already are.”

Kaine: “But I’m asking you a should question. Whether they are or not, we’ll get into that later.” He then repeated his question.

DeVos said: “I think that is a matter that is best left to the states.”

Kaine responded: “So some states might be good to kids with disabilities and other states might not be so good and, what then, people can just move around the country if they don’t like how kids are being treated?”

Devos repeated: “I think that’s an issue that’s best left to the states.”

This perhaps shouldn’t be surprising. Returning to more state and local control is a frequent conservative talking point. The trouble is that in this case we’re talking about children with disabilities’ right to a free appropriate education (known as FAPE). Are rights that aren’t federally enforced really rights?

Along with others who support a strong system of public education, I’m watching this week’s hearings with grave concern.

I have a Patreon! Please support my writing!

Previous Post

January 17, 2017

Martin Luther King, Jr., Shape-Shifter

Next Post

January 18, 2017 The Pinkification of Girls' Toys

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Atheism Evangelicalism/Fundamentalism Family Feminism Homeschool Meta Parenting Patriarchy Politics Purity Quiverfull Social Justice Uncategorized Worthwhile reads

Select a Month February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

To whom did God give the commandments, engraved on stone tablets?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Moses Adam Peter Noah