03.05.18

Ranking Member Scott Condemns DeVos for Prioritizing Privatization

WASHINGTON – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Education announced their final list of priorities last Friday, March 2, 2018.

“As with many recent actions by the Department, I am deeply disappointed with Friday’s announcement. I am disappointed by the Secretary’s failure to heed the advice of many commenters, including Members of Congress, who urged her to abandon school privatization proposals and focus on making sure every public school succeeds. I am disappointed that the words espoused in the final priorities –‘ to support the needs of students with disabilities and improve school climate’ – do not align with recent actions taken by the Department to remove protections for students of color with disabilities and undermine the efficacy of the Office of Civil Rights. And I am disappointed that the Secretary failed to amend the priority for multiple skill pathways to protect students and taxpayers from fraud and low-quality programs. I will work alongside my Congressional colleagues to ensure that the Secretary employs these priorities within the constraints of authorizing statute.”

In November, Ranking Member Scott, Ranking Member Murray, and Congresswoman DeLauro sent a letter to Secretary DeVos citing concerns with the Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Priorities (NPP) when distributing competitive grants.

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