- Title: Trump education pick DeVos testifies before Senate committee
- Date: 18th January 2017
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 17, 2017) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DESIGNATE BETSY DEVOS BEFORE COMMITTEE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DESIGNATE BETSY DEVOS SAYING: "I'm a firm believer that parents should be empowered to choose the learning environment that's best for each of their individual children. The vast majority of students in this country will continue to attend public schools. If confirmed I will be a strong advocate for great public schools. But if a school is troubled or unsafe or not a good fit for a child, perhaps they have a special need that is going unmet we should support a parent's right to enroll their child in a high quality alternative. It's really pretty simple. Every child in America deserves to be in a safe environment that's free from discrimination. Every student in America dreams of developing his or her unique talents and gifts. Every parent in America dreams of a future when their children have access to schools with the rigor, challenges and safe environments that successfully prepare them for a brighter more hopeful tomorrow." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR BOB CASEY, DEMOCRAT OF PENNSYLVANIA, SAYING: "In 2011 the Department of Education issued guidance on Title IX by this administration, the current administration. I would ask you if you would uphold that 2011 Title IX guidance as it relates to sexual assault on campus?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DESIGNATE BETSY DEVOS SAYING: "Senator I know there is a lot of conflicting ideas and opinions around that guidance. And if confirmed I would look forward to working with you and your colleagues and understand the range of opinions and the issues from the high ed institutions who are charged with resolving these and addressing them. And I would look forward to working together to find some resolutions." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR BOB CASEY, DEMOCRAT OF PENNSYLVANIA, SAYING: "I agree with the guidance so I'm just asking for a yes and no but I guess you're not going to give me a yes or no answer on committing to that guidance." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DESIGNATE BETSY DEVOS SAYING: "It would be premature for me to do that today." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR AL FRANKEN, DEMOCRAT OF MINNESOTA, SAYING: "And I would like your views on the relative advantage measure, in doing assessments in using them in measuring proficiency or measure growth." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DESIGNATE BETSY DEVOS SAYING: "Thank you senator for that question. I think if I understand your question correctly around proficiency I would also correlate it to competency and mastery so that each student is measured according to the advancement that they are making in each subject area." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR AL FRANKEN, DEMOCRAT OF MINNESOTA, SAYING: "Well that's growth. That's not proficiency. The growth they are making is in growth and the proficiency in an arbitrary standard." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DESIGNATE BETSY DEVOS SAYING: "If they reached a level. The proficiency if they have reached a level,, if they have reached a third grade level." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR AL FRANKEN, DEMOCRAT OF MINNESOTA, SAYING: "I'm talking about the debate between proficiency and growth." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DESIGNATE BETSY DEVOS SAYING: "Well I was just asking to clarify." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR AL FRANKEN, DEMOCRAT OF MINNESOTA, SAYING: "Well this is a subject that is, has been debated in the education community for years. And I've advocated growth as the chairman and every member of this community knows because with proficiency teachers ignore the kids at the top who are not going to fall below proficiency and ignore the kid at the bottom who no matter what they do will never get to proficiency. And it so I have been an advocate for growth. But it surprised me that you don't know this issue. And Mr. Chairman I think this is a good reason for us to have more questions." COMMITTEE
- Embargoed: 1st February 2017 02:55
- Keywords: Betsy DeVos Donald Trump Education Congress
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C, UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZH19PH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Department of Education battled Senate Democrats on the U.S. Senate Committee on Heath, Education, Labor and Pensions on Tuesday (January 17).
The wealthy Republican donor and school choice advocate, Betsy DeVos, stood firm about her beliefs that have concerned Senate Democrats during a confirmation hearing.
"I'm a firm believer that parents should be empowered to choose the learning environment that is best for each of their individual children. The vast majority of students in this country will continue to attend public schools. If confirmed I will be a strong advocate for great public schools. But if a school is troubled or unsafe or not a good fit for a child perhaps they have a special need that is going unmet we should support a parent's right to enroll their child in a high quality alternative. It's really quite simple," DeVos said in her opening statement.
Many Democratic members of the committee asked DeVos who was noncommittal for guarantees on funding for public schools and various voucher programs.
Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey asked DeVos for backing of the Obama administration's Title IX guidelines to combat sexual assault on university campus in the United States.
"Senator I know there is a lot of conflicting ideas and opinions around that guidance. And if confirmed I would look forward to working with you and your colleagues and understand the range of opinions and the issues from the high ed institutions who are charged with resolving these and addressing them. And I would look forward to working together to find some resolutions."
Casey pressed her for a yes or no answer to commit to the guidance since it was a policy he said he agreed with.
DeVos told him "It would be premature for me to do that today."
Senate Democrats were also angered that they would only get one round of questions with the school choice advocate who has not held a formal position in the education field but has been a wealthy donor for education issues.
Senator Al Franken of Minnesota got into a debate with DeVos on analysis of a students achievements and whether she backed growth versus proficiency measurements.
"I would like your views on the relative advantage measure, in doing assessments in using them in measuring proficiency or measure growth," Franken asked.
"I think if I understand your question correctly around proficiency I would also correlate it to competency and mastery so that each student is measured according to the advancement that they are making in each subject," DeVos replied.
Franken said it was growth and not proficiency and said he was talking about the debate in the education community between proficiency and growth.
"This is a subject that is, has been debated in the education community for years," Franken said.
"With proficiency teachers ignore the kids at the top who are not going to fall below proficiency and ignore the kid at the bottom who no matter what they do will never get to proficiency. And it so I have been an advocate for growth. But it surprised me that you don't know this issue."
DeVos is a former chair of the Michigan Republican Party and said during the hearing that her family has given around $200 million in various political causes. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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