Inquiry will review DeVos' revival of troubled accreditor
Source: Associated Press
By COLLIN BINKLEY
31 minutes ago
The Education Department’s independent watchdog said Wednesday that it plans to investigate Secretary Betsy DeVos’ decision to reinstate a troubled accrediting agency that was shut down by the Obama administration over allegations of lax oversight.
The department’s inspector general is launching the review in response to a Dec. 17 letter from Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the top Democrats on congressional committees that oversee education, a spokeswoman for the inspector general told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
In their letter, the Democrats question how closely DeVos reviewed the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges, and they suggest that education officials exaggerated the group’s support from others in the industry, which was a factor in DeVos’ decision to reinstate it.
A department spokeswoman did not immediately provide comment.
DeVos’ Nov. 21 decision to revive the accrediting group has become a flashpoint in a broader debate over the regulation of for-profit colleges. Democrats say DeVos has been too friendly to the industry, while DeVos has said the previous administration went too far working against it.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/4398a6f06b5c496283cf03bab7da67c7
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