Trump's pick for Education secretary could put school vouchers back on the map
Fifteen years ago, a controversial question about America’s schools dominated headlines, prompted ballot measures in California and other states and led wealthy philanthropists to dig deep into their pockets in the name of educational reform.
Should government money pay for students to attend private — even religious — schools?
Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s pick for Education secretary, whose confirmation hearings begin Tuesday, was one of the biggest backers of the yes camp.
But after voters in some states, including California, gave vouchers a resounding no, the issue fizzled in all but a few, mostly conservative places.
DeVos’ nomination — and the president-elect’s backing — could put vouchers back on the map in a major way.
DeVos, a Republican fundraiser from Michigan, has backed school vouchers across the country. And although Trump said little about education on the campaign trail, he did at one point suggest legislation to create a major school voucher program as one of his priorities for his first 100 days.
The plan calls for $20 billion in federal money — combined with $110 billion from the states — to give the nation’s poor students $12,000 each toward private school tuition, provided enough funding is collected, according to Trump’s team. The tuition could pay for religious schools as well as boarding schools and academies that focus on a specific subject areas or philosophies.Trump's pick for Education secretary could put school vouchers back on the map - LA Times:
