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Monday, July 20, 2020

Mitchell Robinson: Betsy DeVos Isn't Serious About Reopening Schools: Here's How We Know | Eclectablog

Betsy DeVos Isn't Serious About Reopening Schools: Here's How We Know | Eclectablog

Betsy DeVos Isn’t Serious About Reopening Schools: Here’s How We Know



You know how I know that the corporate education reformers, and their leader, Betsy DeVos, were never serious about actually improving public education?
Because now, in the midst of a global pandemic, and a complete lack of national education policy guidance beyond “SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!“, none of these education policy “experts” have come up with any “out of the box” advice for how schools can reopen without endangering the lives of millions of children and thousands of teachers.
Nothing.
Nada.
Zip.
What these “experts” have suggested are punishments, like threatening to withhold the 8% of funding for schools provided by the federal government to schools that open virtually–as if that will help anything.
And who would cutting that 8% in federal funding hurt most? Poor kids, minority kids, kids with disabilities–the children who can least afford yet another round of cuts to their educational opportunities.
So, want to open schools and looking for some advice on how to do so?
• Increase funding for public schools–the most conservative estimates are that schools will need an additional $245 billion to even begin to reopen safely. The Cares Act has provided $13.5 billion. Betsy DeVos has authorized $180 million in Dept. of Ed funding–for private and religious school vouchers. More than $2 trillion was spent on bailing out small businesses, like restaurants and CONTINUE READING: Betsy DeVos Isn't Serious About Reopening Schools: Here's How We Know | Eclectablog