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Education Department Announces Rethink K-12 School Models Grants, Including Vouchers

Yesterday, the Department of Education (ED) announced the availability of $180 million for the Rethink K-12 School Models Grant, as part of the CARES Act funding for K-12 passed by Congress last month.

The discretionary grant funds will be made available to states hit hardest by COVID-19 for students to access learning during the crisis. States can apply for funds in one of three categories, including “microgrants” for families to acquire technology and educational services.

“This is the time for local education leaders to unleash their creativity and ingenuity, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do to provide education freedom and economic opportunity for America’s students,” remarked Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

The proposal for microgrants was met with harsh criticism from opponents of vouchers who view the move as an opportunistic move to advance DeVos’ priority to use public funds for private education. House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro, in a scathing statement calling for DeVos to stand down, remarked, “At best, the Secretary is exploiting emergency relief legislation to insert Secretarial priorities not outlined in this section of the CARES Act. At worst, the Secretary is deliberately misreading the law.”

Why This Matters to CEC Members

CEC has a long-standing policy against using public funds for private educational services for many reasons, including that they fail to safeguard the civil rights provided by laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including the right to a free and appropriate public education; they do not contain accountability measures; and they take away much-needed funding from public schools.

To view CEC’s policy statement on vouchers, go here.  

Posted:  28 April, 2020
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