Betsy DeVos
Education news, analysis, and opinion about the 11th U.S. Education Secretary, who served from 2017 to 2021.
Betsy DeVos, Eleventh U.S. Education Secretary: Background and Achievements
Background and highlights of Betsy Devos's tenure as the eleventh U.S. Secretary of Education.
Federal
White House Ratchets Up Political Pressure to Reopen School Buildings
President Donald Trump made his most forceful push yet for schools to reopen their buildings, and he is seeking to leverage the issue for his re-election campaign.
Federal
Congress' Think Tank Casts Doubt on DeVos Push to Aid Private School Students
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' push to direct coronavirus relief to private school students in general doesn't match "the most straightforward reading" of the CARES Act, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Budget & Finance
Trump Team Signals Support for More School Relief, Private School Choice Plan
As Trump officials voiced support for additional aid for K-12 schools, opponents criticized a report that the White House will push for a private school choice plan in the next relief package.
Federal
DeVos Partially Retreats in Fight Over COVID Aid and Private School Students
The Education Department's interim final rule is a qualified victory for those who've fought to keep more COVID aid for public schools. But it could complicate life for some districts.
Equity & Diversity
Seventeen States, D.C. Sue DeVos Over Rule on Sexual Assault, Harassment in Schools
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia sued U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos over her rules on how schools should address sexual assault and harassment under Title IX.
Federal
Illinois Directs Districts to Set Aside Federal COVID Aid for All Private School Students
The state's decision indicates that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' push on COVID-19 and private school students is having an affect.
Federal
DeVos to Release Rule Cementing COVID Aid Push for Private School Students
In a letter to state education chiefs announcing her plan to publish a CARES Act rule for public comment, DeVos also highlighted what she called school leaders' "reflex" not to share COVID-19 aid.
Federal
Sen. Alexander Splits From Betsy DeVos on COVID-19 Aid to Help Private Schools
During a press conference, Sen. Lamar Alexander also said he thinks no additional federal guidance is needed to help schools determine how much coronavirus testing is necessary to reopen safely this fall.
Federal
Lawmakers Tell Betsy DeVos Her COVID-19 Guidance Is 'Robbing Public Schools'
Three Democratic lawmakers told Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to get rid of her guidance about coronavirus relief and private schools, as tensions around the issue escalated.
Equity & Diversity
ACLU Sues DeVos Over Title IX Rules on Sexual Assault, Harassment Investigations
The ACLU sued to block parts of new rules that govern how K-12 schools, colleges, and universities must respond to reports of sexual assault and harassment under Title IX.
Federal
DeVos Appoints New Director for English-Learner Office
The selection of Lorena Orozco McElwain as director of the office of English language acquisition shakes up a long-standing tradition.
Federal
Title IX Rule Details How K-12 Schools Must Address Sexual Harassment, Assault
The Education Department outlines when and how schools must respond to reports of sexual assault and harassment under the Trump administration's interpretation of Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination.
Federal
Four Things to Know About Betsy DeVos' COVID-19 Grants for Parents, States
The new "Rethink K-12 Education Models" program under the CARES Act has $180 million in grant money to distribute to states, and is divided into three grant priorities.
Education
Special Education Teachers a New Focus for Betsy DeVos Voucher Push
The proposed priority for special education grants is the latest push by the U.S. Secretary of Education to embed more choice for students and educators in federal K-12 funding.