In Secretary Devos’s First Appearance Before the Committee, Democrats Seek Answers on Conflicts of Interest, Support for For-Profit Colleges, and Attacks on Civil Rights
“The Education Department’s enforcement of civil rights law appears to be in full retreat at a time when students - all students - need the Department to stand with them, fight for them, and protect their right to a quality public-school education.”
WASHINGTON – Today, in Secretary Betsy DeVos’s first appearance before the Committee in her 16 months in office, Committee Democrats expressed deep concerns about the Department of Education’s support for for-profit education, its numerous apparent conflicts of interest, and its efforts to undermine students’ civil rights in schools and campuses across the country.
Members used the rare opportunity to question Secretary DeVos to seek explanations for the Department’s agenda, which has undermined equity in education and put corporate profits ahead of students.
“The Education Department’s enforcement of civil rights law appears to be in full retreat at a time when students – all students – need the Department to stand with them, fight for them, and protect their right to a quality public-school education,” Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) told Secretary DeVos. “To put it more plainly: the Department is moving us further away from the promise of educational equity contained within Brown v. Board of Education.”
In his closing remarks, Ranking Member Scott noted that one hearing is not sufficient to address the range of important issues that have serious consequences for students and taxpayers– in particular, the devastating effects of House GOP’s proposed cut of $15 billion to federal student aid. He called on the Majority to provide more opportunities for the Committee to conduct meaningful oversight over the Department’s work.
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