U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos isn’t mincing words when it comes to her views on how previous administrations’ departments of education operated:
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos took to task previous administrations – both Democratic and Republican – for taking too heavy-handed an approach in driving education policy, resulting in stagnant academic achievement despite billions of federal dollars spent.
“Politicians from both parties just can’t help themselves,” she said. “They have talked about painting education in new colors and even broader strokes. But each time, reform has not fundamentally changed the system. Each attempt has really just been a new coat of paint on the same old wall.”
She then went on to do exactly that, criticizing everything from the heavy-handed accountability system included in the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law to the billions of dollars in competitive education grants that the Obama administration relied on to persuade states to adopt its policy preferences.
Actions generally speak louder than words, but let’s hope in this case, DeVos’ policy initiatives are at least as powerful as her rhetoric.
SOURCE: U.S. News and World Report
IN THIS ISSUE:
- NEW HAMPSHIRE: Half of New Hampshire’s K-12 students would be eligible for an education savings account under a bill currently making its way through Congress.
- MEMPHIS: A Memphis, Tennessee superintendent says he’d consider handing failing schools over to charter school operators.
- PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Education Week releases its annual analysis of public schools.
- FOR SALE: Public school teachers are buying and selling lesson plans and criticizing for-profit private schools.
Common Core and Curriculum Watch
- NEW JERSEY: New Jersey’s new governor wants to get rid of the state’s PARCC standardized testing.
- FEPA: Jane Robbins explains what the Foundations of Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (FEPA) is and why is matters.
- ARIZONA: An Arizona bill would require high school juniors to take college acceptance exams.
- NO HOMEWORK: Missouri schools are cutting down on homework to help kids de-stress.
- JANUS: A case to end forced union dues is gearing up to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
- TEACH FOR AMERICA: The Teach for America program produces high-quality teachers, principals say in a new survey.
- INDIANA: Graduation rates are down across the board for Indiana students.
Teresa Mull is a policy advisor for education and an editor at The Heartland Institute.
