U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos addressed topics ranging from teacher strikes to the recently introduced Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act in an appearance Monday at the 72nd national seminar of the Education Writers Association.
Describing her approach to education as “a freedom philosophy” with policies aimed at empowering families rather than the government, DeVos told the gathering in Baltimore that she is an advocate of the legislation introduced in the Senate in February by Ted Cruz, R-TX, and in the House of Representatives by Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-AL.
The legislation allows states to participate in an optional program in which federal tax credits would be given to businesses and individuals that donate to nonprofit scholarship funds in efforts to expand elementary, secondary and vocational education opportunities. Proponents describe it as an additional way of improving education leading into college and workforce preparedness.
DeVos expounded on the legislative initiative in an interview with EWA board member Erica Green of The New York Times that followed DeVos’ brief prepared remarks.
Debunking a myth that the program is a voucher scheme for charter schools, DeVos said it allows people “to direct money that they themselves earned” and is “a more effective and efficient way to get resources to students who need them the most.”
Education Freedom scholarship money could benefit public schools, she added, where 90 percent of American elementary and secondary students attend and where 60 percent of parents said they “would prefer something different if they could choose.”
It’s past time for such creative new options in American education that make more options available to all students and families, DeVos contended.
