Democrats Tell DeVos Her Head Is in the Sand on Racial Bias
WASHINGTON — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos defended her agency’s commitment to minority students in a wide-ranging hearing in which congressional leaders pressed Ms. DeVos on her department’s budget.
Ms. DeVos testified before the House Appropriations Committee, fielding questions on the Education Department’s budget request for the fiscal year that begins in October. The request calls for a 5 percent spending cut, eliminates dozens of programs and pitches a $1 billion school choice proposal.
“With this budget, we can continue to return power to those who walk side by side with students every day,” Ms. DeVos said. “Because that’s who budgets are for, not special interest, not legislators, not the system. This budget is about students.”
But Democratic lawmakers disagreed that the budget would benefit all students — especially minorities.
Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat of California, called the budget a “slap in the face” for minority students. Ms. Lee seized on a proposed $1 million cut to the department’s Office for Civil Rights, and its proposed cuts to after-school programs.
The cuts, coupled with the Trump administration’s decision to examine and possibly rescind guidance meant to protect minority students from racial discrimination in discipline and special education decisions, inflamed a debate about the department’s approach to minority students.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-tell-devos-her-‘head-is-in-the-sand’-on-racial-bias/ar-BBKu8Ui?ocid=spartandhp
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