By now most people who care realize that Betsy DeVos has one issue: parental choice. To achieve that end, she supports state control over education policy. In the New York Times analysis of her confirmation hearing, her knowledge of the law and education policy was non existent. This is not surprising. She has been a one horse pony in the private sector for vouchers and charter expansion.
The NY Times piece cites DeVos’ ignorance about special education law, regulation of for-profit universities, or even the difference between achievement gains and proficiency levels. The answer to every question was: leave it to the states. Will Congress bow out?
Suppose the federal government did close down the Department of Education. The federal government was not always involved in K12 education. Its history is interesting. Where would that lead? State after state is cutting funding. School districts and the private sector are supposed to find the money locally to manage the schools.
My grandmother taught in a country school. So did my husband’s mother. A few people got together, built a one room school and hired a teacher. Will this approach raise our PISA scores? It reminds me of an old time saying: Watch out what you wish for.