With the new administration in place, there are many positive changes on the horizon: a solid strategy to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, the appointment of the first Black, South Asian, and female Vice President, and a leader who has long championed labor rights. However, one of the most significant shifts we’re looking forward to is the departure of Betsy DeVos, widely regarded as one of the least effective Secretaries of Education in U.S. history. Educators are relieved to see her go.
DeVos’s tenure was marked by a troubling lack of experience in public education. According to the National Education Association, she had never been a teacher, administrator, or even involved in public schools in any capacity. Her own children did not attend public schools; instead, she and her family invested millions in promoting school privatization initiatives. DeVos supported pro-voucher candidates and played a key role in establishing Detroit’s charter school system, which has been criticized for neglecting regulation and accountability while draining resources from public schools. Many have described it as one of the most significant failures in school reform in the nation.
DeVos Rolled Back Protections for Transgender Students
During the Obama Administration, protections for transgender students under Title IX allowed them to use facilities aligned with their gender identity. DeVos reversed these protections, as reported by The Hill. Even more alarmingly, her Department of Education threatened to withhold federal funds from Connecticut school districts that allowed transgender students to participate in sports teams that matched their gender identity. In one notable case, DeVos pressured Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire to change its definition of a “female athlete” following a lawsuit involving a transgender athlete, Cecé Telfer, who achieved historic success in NCAA events.
DeVos Undermined Protections for Disabled Students
For parents of children with disabilities, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is crucial, as it guarantees the right to public education. DeVos, however, either overlooked or disregarded this federal law, suggesting that such matters should be determined by states. This was particularly concerning given her push for privatization, where special education vouchers often led to a loss of rights under IDEA for affected students. Reports highlighted disturbing practices in some privatized settings, including corporal punishment and inadequate educational programs.
She Dismissed Civil Rights Investigations
DeVos implemented policies that effectively dismissed civil rights claims involving systemic issues within school systems, as reported by ProPublica. When individual students filed complaints, investigations might occur, but large-scale claims by groups of students were often ignored. For instance, in DeSoto, Mississippi, research indicated that Black students were disproportionately subjected to corporal punishment compared to their white peers, yet investigations into these claims were quickly shut down with no findings of wrongdoing.
She Used Flawed Studies to Justify Policies
In 2014, the Obama administration mandated that schools adopt restorative justice practices to reduce racial disparities in discipline. DeVos rolled back these initiatives, citing school safety concerns after the Parkland shooting. Alarmingly, one of the studies she referenced to support her policies was criticized for its racially biased conclusions, attributing disciplinary disparities to the behavior of Black students rather than systemic issues like institutional racism.
DeVos Supported Predatory For-Profit Colleges
DeVos repealed an Obama-era regulation that required for-profit colleges to demonstrate their graduates were earning enough to justify federal funding. This led to significant financial losses for taxpayers and left many students burdened with unmanageable debt, all while continuing to fund poorly performing programs. She even appointed individuals from the for-profit education sector to oversee accountability investigations.
What We Need from the New Administration
It’s crucial that the Biden-Harris administration undertake a comprehensive overhaul of the Department of Education that was damaged under DeVos. We urge you to protect vulnerable populations in your education initiatives, just as you have in your COVID-19 response. This includes ensuring robust protections for students of color, transgender students, and those facing various inequalities, whether they come from underfunded urban schools or struggling rural areas.
We need to address the race-based disciplinary issues that have been exacerbated under DeVos’s reign. It’s time to reinstate restorative justice practices and eliminate corporal punishment in schools—no child should face physical punishment in any educational setting.
Additionally, it’s essential to uphold the rights of disabled students and provide teachers with the necessary resources to support them. This means increasing access to aides and support staff to ensure every student receives a fair education in the least restrictive environment.
Regarding for-profit colleges, we call for the forgiveness of student loans and stricter regulations on underperforming programs. Many, especially Millennials, are overwhelmed by student debt, and it’s time to take action.
We recognize that these are substantial requests, but we have faith in your leadership to rectify the challenges created during DeVos’s tenure. We believe in your commitment to education and the potential for meaningful change.
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Summary:
The departure of Betsy DeVos marks a pivotal moment for the U.S. education system. Her tenure was characterized by harmful policies that undermined protections for vulnerable students, from transgender and disabled individuals to students of color. The new administration is urged to prioritize reforms that promote equity, restore civil rights protections, and ensure a fair education for all students while addressing the issues created during DeVos’s time in office.