http://us11.campaign-archive1.com/?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=9c16ba71f4&e=c97bce6fadView
this email in your browser
American Foundation for the Blind logo: Expanding possibilities

Read this edition of the Direct Connect
Newsletter online at the following link:
http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=8c88991012&e=c97bce6fadhttp://www.afb.org/info/programs-and-services/public-policy-center/directconnect-newsletter/hearing-excerpts-devos-on-disability/1235

January 19, 2017

Prepared by Sarah Malaier; for more information,
contact Mark Richert, Director of Public Policy,
at mailto:mrichert@afb.netmrichert@afb.net.

In the midst of the flurry of Senate confirmation
hearings for President-Elect Trump’s cabinet
nominees, one nomination in which we are sure
many of you are particularly interested is the
nomination of the Secretary of
Education.  Because the Department of Education
oversees the Office of Special Education
Programs, funding for university personnel
preparation programs, the Rehabilitation Services
Administration, the Independent Living Services
for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, and
many other priorities, this department is
especially important to our field.  Betsy DeVos
has been nominated to lead the Department of
Education, so we have taken the time to provide
you with an overview of her answers to questions
about issues that affect students with disabilities.

The following text is excerpted from the
transcript of the Senate Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on the
nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as Secretary
of Education that took place on Tuesday, January
17, 2017, at 5:00 pm Eastern time.  These
excerpts focus on questions related to students
with disabilities and, in particular, the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA).  The text may contain transcription,
typographical, and grammatical errors.  Links to
video clips of each excerpt of the hearing from
the C-SPAN website are also included.

Transcript Excerpts:

Link to Sen. Collins’ questions:
http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=5dada09c9b&e=c97bce6fadhttps://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649461%2fsen-collins-federalism-idea-funding=

Sen. Collins: At what level of government do you
believe that decisions about charter schools and
vouchers should be made – is that a federal role or a state role??

Ms. DeVos: Thank you for that question. Let me
say that I really enjoyed the conversation we had
in your office. Let me respond to your question
about federal versus state and local role by
saying I absolutely support the fact it is a
state role and state decision what kind of
offering there might be with regards to choices
and education. As we discussed in your office,
Maine has a unique situation with students
attending school on islands and in rural areas.
To suggest that the right answer for Maine is the
same as the right answer for Indiana or any state
is just not right, and I would not support a
federal mandate or federal role in dictating those.

Sen. Collins: I am glad to hear that. I have
heard repeatedly from school officials, whether
its teachers or superintendents or school board
members, that the single most important action
the federal government could take would be to
fulfill the promise of the 1975 individuals with
disabilities education act, to fund 40% of the
additional cost of educating a special needs
child. It has been many years since that law was
passed. We have never come close to the 40%.
Would you commit to taking a look at the funding
of the department to see if we could do a better
job of moving towards fulfillment of that
promise? That is an action that would help every
single school district in this country.

Ms. DeVos: Senator, absolutely I would commit to
that if confirmed. I actually think this is an
area that could be considered for an approach
that would be somewhat different, and that maybe
the money should follow individual students
instead of going directly to the states. Again, I
think that is something that we could discuss. I
look forward to talking about that with the members of this committee.

[Later in the hearing.]

Link to Sen. Hassan’s questions:
http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=6cd3113208&e=c97bce6fadhttps://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649467%2fsen-hassan-students-disabilities-k-12-voucher-programs=

Senator Hassan. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair and
ranking member Murray. I looking forward -- I
look forward to working on this committee and
appreciate the opportunity to participate. Mrs.
DeVos, it is nice to see you again. Thank you for
being here today, and your family as well. And I
think all of us here share a commitment to public
education and understand the essential nature to
our democracy. I would echo my colleagues' call
for another round at least of questioning,
because I think our job here is not to talk about
ideas but actually to drill down to how things
actually work in practice. And so, I want to talk
about one of those situations you begin to touch
on in my office when we met. It has a little bit
of what Senator Collins was talking about in
terms of full commitment to our students with
disabilities and what Senator Cassidy was talking
about in terms of access to quality education for
children with dyslexia.  My son, Ben, experiences
very severe disabilities; he has cerebral palsy.
He cannot speak or use his fingers for a
keyboard, he can’t walk, but he is smart and
the best kid on earth, if I do say so myself. He
got a quality public education at our local
school. He is a graduate of Exeter Area high
school in Exeter New Hampshire. The reason He got
there because countless advocates and champions
before him worked so hard to make sure he had the
right to that education. And I am concerned that
when students who experience disabilities receive
a publicly funded voucher to attend a private
school, they often don't receive adequate
resources and in some cases have to sign over
their legal rights under the individuals with
disabilities education act. Do you think family
should have a recourse in the courts if their
child's education does not adequately meet his or
her needs, whether it’s at a school where they
get a voucher or a more tradition public school?

Ms. DeVos: Thank you, Senator, for that question.
[…] Let me begin by saying I appreeciate and am
thankful that you have had the opportunity with
your son ben to find the right setting for him
and would advocate for all parents to be able to
have that opportunity to choose the right school for them.

[Sen. Hassan interrupts] Sen. Hassan: Actually, I
had the opportunity to send him to the same
public school that my daughter went to, because
law required that that school provide him
resources that were never provided before that
law was passed because they were was hard. So the
question is, will you enforce the law with regard
to kids with disabilities if the voucher program
did allow them to go someplace else? And the
school said, no, it is just too expensive, we don't want to do it.

DeVos: I think that there are great examples of
programs that are already underway in states.
Ohio has a great program, and, in fact, Sam and
his mom are here today, beneficiary of the John
Peterson special needs scholarship program.

Sen. Hassan: I understand that. But excuse me for
interrupting. What I am asking you is, there is
at least one voucher program in Florida which
makes students sign away their rights before they
can get that voucher. I think that is
fundamentally wrong, and I think it will mean
that students with disabilities cannot use a
voucher system that a department under your
leadership might start. So I want to know whether
you will enforce and whether you will make sure
that children with disabilities do not have to
sign away their legal rights before they can get
that voucher should a voucher system be developed.

Ms. DeVos: I’d love to comment about the McKay
program where I believe 31,000 students are
taking advantage, and 93% of the parents
utilizing the voucher are very, very pleased with it. As opposed to 30% --

Sen. Hassan: I am sorry but that is not the
question I asked. For right now, I will move on
to one final question. I really do wish we had a
second round. Because There is a lot here that is
critical to our students especially with
disabilities. With all due respect, Ms. DeVos,
has not answered my question, but because we do
not have a second round, I am trying to follow up
on an answer you gave earlier. I understand that
there is a foundation named for your parents, correct?

[Later in the hearing.]

Link to Sen. Kaine’s questions:
http://afb.us11.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=f536d045b3&e=c97bce6fadhttps://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649478%2fsen-kaine-federal-funding-requirements=

Senator Kaine: Should all K-12 schools receiving
governmental funding be required to meet the
requirements of the individuals with disabilities education act?

Mrs. DeVos: I think they already are.

Senator Kaine: But I’m asking you a should
question. Whether they are or not, we’ll get
into that later. Should all schools that receive
taxpayer funding be required to meet the
requirements of the individuals with disabilities in education act?

Mrs. DeVos: I think that is a matter is best left to the states.

Senator Kaine: So some states might be good to
kids with disabilities, other states might not be
so good, and then what, people can just move
around the country if they don’t like the way their kid’s been treated?

Mrs. DeVos: I think that is an issue best left to the states.

Senator Kaine: What about the federal
requirement? It’s a federal law. The
individuals with disabilities education act.
Let's limit it to federal funding. If schools
receive federal funding, should they be required
to follow federal law? Whether they are public, public charter, or private?

Mrs. DeVos: As the Senator referred to – at the
Florida program, there are many parentss who are happy with the program there.

Senator Kaine: Let me say this, I think all
schools that receive federal funding, public,
public charter, or private, should be required to
meet the conditions the individuals with
disabilities and education act. Do you agree with me or not?

Mrs. DeVos: I think that is certainly worth
discussion, and I would look forward to

Senator Kaine: So you cannot yet agree with me.
And finally, should all schools that receive
federal funding be required to report the same
information instances of harassment, discipline,
or bullying if they receive federal funding.

Mrs. DeVos: I think that federal funding certainly comes with strings attached.

Senator Kaine: I think all such schools that
receive federal funding should be required to
report on instances of harassment and bullying, and you agree with me on that?

Mrs. DeVos: I would look forward to reviewing that provision.

Senator Kaine: […] It's not a court, you're not
under oath, not under subpoena, but you are
trying to win my vote. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.

[Later in the hearing.]

Link to Sen. Murkowski’s question:
http://afb.us11.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=890b5b4b51&e=c97bce6fadhttps://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649495%2fsen-murkowski-rural-schools-limited-options-civil-rights-students-disabilities=

Senator Murkowski: […] This was something that
was brought up at the Q & A session in Anchorage.
A concern that there would not be an effort to
match that accountability to those schools that
received federal funding, either through a
voucher program, a federal match, an education
savings account but, that in addition to
performance standards, that there would be true
accountability with adhering to federal laws for
civil rights as well as students with
disabilities. So, I will ask for continuation of
that discussion. You have provided some very
responsive comments, that I think will help our
teachers in Alaska, where their options are very
limited. How can you provide assurance to these
teachers, families, and students, for whom
alternatives and options are severely limited,
not because we don't want them, but because our geography isolates us?

Mrs. DeVos: Thank you for that question. I really
appreciated our conversation and a review of the
map because it does remind us of the unique
challenges that Alaska has. I would say that I
can assure you that, if confirmed, I will support
Alaska and its approach to educating its
youngsters. I have to say, I think the creativity
and innovation that Alaska has employed through
the traditional public system is one that other
states can probably take note of and learn some
lessons from, and would hope that they continue
to feel that freedom and that drive to continue
to educate and innovate. [Ms. DeVos gave no response regarding disability.]

[Later in the hearing.]

Link to Sen. Hassan’s second round of
questions:
http://afb.us11.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=7ed45dc225&e=c97bce6fadhttps://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649501%2fsen-hassan-follow-up-states-idea=

Senator Hassan: I want to go back to the
individuals with disabilities in education act.
That is a federal civil rights law. Do you stand
by your statement that it should be up to the states whether to follow it?

Ms. DeVos: Federal law must be followed where federal dollars are in play.

Senator Hassan: So, were you unaware, when I just
asked you about the IDEA, that it is a federal law?

Mrs. DeVos: I may have confused it.

Senator Hassan: It guarantees absolutely basic
protections to students with disabilities to
ensure that they are afforded a high-quality
education with their peers -- one of the reasons
it is difficult to have this hearing and feel
that we fully understand your perspective – is
because we do know that childrenn with
disabilities in at least some of the voucher
programs that you have supported have gone with a
voucher to a school. Because of their disability,
they had to leave the school, the school keeps
the money, and they go back to public schools,
that now have even less resources to deal with
them. And many of us see that as the potential to
turn ours schools into warehouses for the most
challenging kids with disabilities or other kinds
of particular issues. Or, the kids whose parents
cannot afford to make up the difference between
the voucher and the cost of private school
tuition. So I just would urge you to become
familiar, should you be nominated, with the
individuals with disabilities in education act.
I'm concerned that you seem so unfamiliar with
it, and you seem to support vouchers rules that
have not honored, that have made students sign
away their rights to make sure that this law is
enforced. That is very troubling to me.

Mrs. DeVos: Senator, I assure you that I, if I am
confirmed, I will be very sensitive to the needs
of the special needs students and the policies surrounding them.

Senator Hassan: With all due respect, it is not
about sensitivity, although that helps. It is
about being willing to enforce the law to make
sure that my child, that every child, has the
same access to public education, a high-quality
public education. The reality is the way that the
voucher programs that you support have not always
come out that way. That is why it is something we need to continue to explore.

Senator Alexander: Thank you to Senator Hassan and Senator Murray.

END EXCERPTS

If you would like to hear more of the hearing for
yourself, you may view the entire hearing on the
Senate HELP Committee page at
http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=c79cd15d84&e=c97bce6fadhttp://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-of-betsy-devos-to-serve-as-secretary-of-education
or on C-SPAN at
http://afb.us11.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=1af04160df&e=c97bce6fadhttps://www.c-span.org/video/?421224-1%2feducation-secretary-nominee-betsy-devos-testifies-confirmation-hearing=&live=.
http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=1a1f0b8015&e=c97bce6fad
[]

http://afb.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd3c8fefc9f905f5ccf41c577&id=e9cf238033&e=c97bce6fad
[]

Holy cow!!!!!  As I read this, I became very alarmed and drafted a message about how SCARY -- abhorrent and S-C-A-R-Y this is! Thank goodness before sending the message I read to the end, and found out that the nominee, Ms. Betsy DeVos, was just being ignorant and uninformed about children with disabilities and the law, A SUBJECT THAT SHE IS SUPPOSEDLY AN EXPERT ON (as apposed to many of the nominees!)

And thank goodness we have a few good people in the Senate to bring up these questions and persist for the answer.

Thank you so much, Mark and Sarah, for bringing this to our attention.  Looks like we’ll have to work triple-extra hard to maintain / procure rights for all students, including those with disabilities.  Please keep us posted as to what we can do.

-- Dona

From: Mark Richert
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2017 3:59 PM
To: aernet@lists.aerbvi.org
Subject: Re: [AERNet] Hearing Excerpts: Education Secretary Nominee DeVos on Disability

View this email in your browser

Read this edition of the Direct Connect Newsletter online at the following link:
http://www.afb.org/info/programs-and-services/public-policy-center/directconnect-newsletter/hearing-excerpts-devos-on-disability/1235

January 19, 2017

Prepared by Sarah Malaier; for more information, contact Mark Richert, Director of Public Policy, at mrichert@afb.net.

In the midst of the flurry of Senate confirmation hearings for President-Elect Trump’s cabinet nominees, one nomination in which we are sure many of you are particularly interested is the nomination of the Secretary of Education.  Because the Department of Education oversees the Office of Special Education Programs, funding for university personnel preparation programs, the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, and many other priorities, this department is especially important to our field.  Betsy DeVos has been nominated to lead the Department of Education, so we have taken the time to provide you with an overview of her answers to questions about issues that affect students with disabilities.

The following text is excerpted from the transcript of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as Secretary of Education that took place on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at 5:00 pm Eastern time.  These excerpts focus on questions related to students with disabilities and, in particular, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  The text may contain transcription, typographical, and grammatical errors.  Links to video clips of each excerpt of the hearing from the C-SPAN website are also included.

Transcript Excerpts:
Link to Sen. Collins’ questions: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649461%2fsen-collins-federalism-idea-funding=

Sen. Collins: At what level of government do you believe that decisions about charter schools and vouchers should be made – is that a federal role or a state role??

Ms. DeVos: Thank you for that question. Let me say that I really enjoyed the conversation we had in your office. Let me respond to your question about federal versus state and local role by saying I absolutely support the fact it is a state role and state decision what kind of offering there might be with regards to choices and education. As we discussed in your office, Maine has a unique situation with students attending school on islands and in rural areas. To suggest that the right answer for Maine is the same as the right answer for Indiana or any state is just not right, and I would not support a federal mandate or federal role in dictating those.

Sen. Collins: I am glad to hear that. I have heard repeatedly from school officials, whether its teachers or superintendents or school board members, that the single most important action the federal government could take would be to fulfill the promise of the 1975 individuals with disabilities education act, to fund 40% of the additional cost of educating a special needs child. It has been many years since that law was passed. We have never come close to the 40%. Would you commit to taking a look at the funding of the department to see if we could do a better job of moving towards fulfillment of that promise? That is an action that would help every single school district in this country.

Ms. DeVos: Senator, absolutely I would commit to that if confirmed. I actually think this is an area that could be considered for an approach that would be somewhat different, and that maybe the money should follow individual students instead of going directly to the states. Again, I think that is something that we could discuss. I look forward to talking about that with the members of this committee.

[Later in the hearing.]

Link to Sen. Hassan’s questions: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649467%2fsen-hassan-students-disabilities-k-12-voucher-programs=

Senator Hassan. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair and ranking member Murray. I looking forward -- I look forward to working on this committee and appreciate the opportunity to participate. Mrs. DeVos, it is nice to see you again. Thank you for being here today, and your family as well. And I think all of us here share a commitment to public education and understand the essential nature to our democracy. I would echo my colleagues' call for another round at least of questioning, because I think our job here is not to talk about ideas but actually to drill down to how things actually work in practice. And so, I want to talk about one of those situations you begin to touch on in my office when we met. It has a little bit of what Senator Collins was talking about in terms of full commitment to our students with disabilities and what Senator Cassidy was talking about in terms of access to quality education for children with dyslexia.  My son, Ben, experiences very severe disabilities; he has cerebral palsy. He cannot speak or use his fingers for a keyboard, he can’t walk, but he is smart and the best kid on earth, if I do say so myself. He got a quality public education at our local school. He is a graduate of Exeter Area high school in Exeter New Hampshire. The reason He got there because countless advocates and champions before him worked so hard to make sure he had the right to that education. And I am concerned that when students who experience disabilities receive a publicly funded voucher to attend a private school, they often don't receive adequate resources and in some cases have to sign over their legal rights under the individuals with disabilities education act. Do you think family should have a recourse in the courts if their child's education does not adequately meet his or her needs, whether it’s at a school where they get a voucher or a more tradition public school?

Ms. DeVos: Thank you, Senator, for that question. […] Let me begin by saying I appreeciate and am thankful that you have had the opportunity with your son ben to find the right setting for him and would advocate for all parents to be able to have that opportunity to choose the right school for them.

[Sen. Hassan interrupts] Sen. Hassan: Actually, I had the opportunity to send him to the same public school that my daughter went to, because law required that that school provide him resources that were never provided before that law was passed because they were was hard. So the question is, will you enforce the law with regard to kids with disabilities if the voucher program did allow them to go someplace else? And the school said, no, it is just too expensive, we don't want to do it.

DeVos: I think that there are great examples of programs that are already underway in states. Ohio has a great program, and, in fact, Sam and his mom are here today, beneficiary of the John Peterson special needs scholarship program.

Sen. Hassan: I understand that. But excuse me for interrupting. What I am asking you is, there is at least one voucher program in Florida which makes students sign away their rights before they can get that voucher. I think that is fundamentally wrong, and I think it will mean that students with disabilities cannot use a voucher system that a department under your leadership might start. So I want to know whether you will enforce and whether you will make sure that children with disabilities do not have to sign away their legal rights before they can get that voucher should a voucher system be developed.

Ms. DeVos: I’d love to comment about the McKay program where I believe 31,000 students are taking advantage, and 93% of the parents utilizing the voucher are very, very pleased with it. As opposed to 30% --

Sen. Hassan: I am sorry but that is not the question I asked. For right now, I will move on to one final question. I really do wish we had a second round. Because There is a lot here that is critical to our students especially with disabilities. With all due respect, Ms. DeVos, has not answered my question, but because we do not have a second round, I am trying to follow up on an answer you gave earlier. I understand that there is a foundation named for your parents, correct?

[Later in the hearing.]

Link to Sen. Kaine’s questions: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649478%2fsen-kaine-federal-funding-requirements=

Senator Kaine: Should all K-12 schools receiving governmental funding be required to meet the requirements of the individuals with disabilities education act?

Mrs. DeVos: I think they already are.

Senator Kaine: But I’m asking you a should question. Whether they are or not, we’ll get into that later. Should all schools that receive taxpayer funding be required to meet the requirements of the individuals with disabilities in education act?

Mrs. DeVos: I think that is a matter is best left to the states.

Senator Kaine: So some states might be good to kids with disabilities, other states might not be so good, and then what, people can just move around the country if they don’t like the way their kid’s been treated?

Mrs. DeVos: I think that is an issue best left to the states.

Senator Kaine: What about the federal requirement? It’s a federal law. The individuals with disabilities education act. Let's limit it to federal funding. If schools receive federal funding, should they be required to follow federal law? Whether they are public, public charter, or private?

Mrs. DeVos: As the Senator referred to – at the Florida program, there are many parentss who are happy with the program there.

Senator Kaine: Let me say this, I think all schools that receive federal funding, public, public charter, or private, should be required to meet the conditions the individuals with disabilities and education act. Do you agree with me or not?

Mrs. DeVos: I think that is certainly worth discussion, and I would look forward to

Senator Kaine: So you cannot yet agree with me. And finally, should all schools that receive federal funding be required to report the same information instances of harassment, discipline, or bullying if they receive federal funding.

Mrs. DeVos: I think that federal funding certainly comes with strings attached.

Senator Kaine: I think all such schools that receive federal funding should be required to report on instances of harassment and bullying, and you agree with me on that?

Mrs. DeVos: I would look forward to reviewing that provision.

Senator Kaine: […] It's not a court, you're not under oath, not under subpoena, but you are trying to win my vote. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.

[Later in the hearing.]

Link to Sen. Murkowski’s question: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649495%2fsen-murkowski-rural-schools-limited-options-civil-rights-students-disabilities=

Senator Murkowski: […] This was something that was brought up at the Q & A session in Anchorage. A concern that there would not be an effort to match that accountability to those schools that received federal funding, either through a voucher program, a federal match, an education savings account but, that in addition to performance standards, that there would be true accountability with adhering to federal laws for civil rights as well as students with disabilities. So, I will ask for continuation of that discussion. You have provided some very responsive comments, that I think will help our teachers in Alaska, where their options are very limited. How can you provide assurance to these teachers, families, and students, for whom alternatives and options are severely limited, not because we don't want them, but because our geography isolates us?

Mrs. DeVos: Thank you for that question. I really appreciated our conversation and a review of the map because it does remind us of the unique challenges that Alaska has. I would say that I can assure you that, if confirmed, I will support Alaska and its approach to educating its youngsters. I have to say, I think the creativity and innovation that Alaska has employed through the traditional public system is one that other states can probably take note of and learn some lessons from, and would hope that they continue to feel that freedom and that drive to continue to educate and innovate. [Ms. DeVos gave no response regarding disability.]

[Later in the hearing.]

Link to Sen. Hassan’s second round of questions: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4649501%2fsen-hassan-follow-up-states-idea=

Senator Hassan: I want to go back to the individuals with disabilities in education act. That is a federal civil rights law. Do you stand by your statement that it should be up to the states whether to follow it?

Ms. DeVos: Federal law must be followed where federal dollars are in play.

Senator Hassan: So, were you unaware, when I just asked you about the IDEA, that it is a federal law?

Mrs. DeVos: I may have confused it.

Senator Hassan: It guarantees absolutely basic protections to students with disabilities to ensure that they are afforded a high-quality education with their peers -- one of the reasons it is difficult to have this hearing and feel that we fully understand your perspective – is because we do know that childrenn with disabilities in at least some of the voucher programs that you have supported have gone with a voucher to a school. Because of their disability, they had to leave the school, the school keeps the money, and they go back to public schools, that now have even less resources to deal with them. And many of us see that as the potential to turn ours schools into warehouses for the most challenging kids with disabilities or other kinds of particular issues. Or, the kids whose parents cannot afford to make up the difference between the voucher and the cost of private school tuition. So I just would urge you to become familiar, should you be nominated, with the individuals with disabilities in education act. I'm concerned that you seem so unfamiliar with it, and you seem to support vouchers rules that have not honored, that have made students sign away their rights to make sure that this law is enforced. That is very troubling to me.

Mrs. DeVos: Senator, I assure you that I, if I am confirmed, I will be very sensitive to the needs of the special needs students and the policies surrounding them.

Senator Hassan: With all due respect, it is not about sensitivity, although that helps. It is about being willing to enforce the law to make sure that my child, that every child, has the same access to public education, a high-quality public education. The reality is the way that the voucher programs that you support have not always come out that way. That is why it is something we need to continue to explore.

Senator Alexander: Thank you to Senator Hassan and Senator Murray.

END EXCERPTS

If you would like to hear more of the hearing for yourself, you may view the entire hearing on the Senate HELP Committee page at http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-of-betsy-devos-to-serve-as-secretary-of-education or on C-SPAN at https://www.c-span.org/video/?421224-1%2feducation-secretary-nominee-betsy-devos-testifies-confirmation-hearing=&live= .

You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv.

To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.org.

Address list requests to:  aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org

To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the list archives.

AERNet mailing list
AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org
http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2016.0.7998 / Virus Database: 4749/13800 - Release Date: 01/19/17