[nfbmi-talk] "Betsy DeVos apparently ‘confused’ about federal law protecting students with disabilities - The Washington Post

[Kane Brolin]

I'm looking for a little experiencial knowledge here, since Ms. DeVos
is a product of Holland, Michigan and a long-time advocate for "school
choice."  I'm all about religious freedom; but how informed is she
about the choices that disabled students are entitled to under
existing law?

Treatment of Ms. DeVos' testimony in "The Washington Post" is
disturbing enough that I think I'm going to dial up the entire archive
of this hearing on C-SPAN and listen to it before phoning my senators'
offices in DC.

Has anyone on this list got experience about how blind students fare
in charter schools or religiously-based parochial schools in Michigan?
 See below.

"Betsy DeVos displayed at best confusion and at worst a lack of
knowledge about a key federal law involving students with disabilities
during her Tuesday confirmation hearing before a Senate panel that
will vote on whether she should become President-elect Donald Trump’s
education secretary.

"Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) asked DeVos about the federal Individuals With
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires public schools to
provide children with disabilities a “free appropriate public
education” and governs how states and public agencies provide various
services to millions of students.

"Kaine asked her if she believes that all schools that receive federal
funding — whether public, public charter or private — should be
required to meet the requirements of IDEA.

"She responded: “I think they already are.”

"Kaine: “But I’m asking you a should question. Whether they are or
not, we’ll get into that later.” He then repeated his question.

"DeVos said: “I think that is a matter that is best left to the
states.'" https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/01/17/betsy-devos-confused-about-federal-law-protecting-students-with-disabilities/?utm_term=.31dbc8e0ce18

C-SPAN's archive of this hearing is found at
https://www.c-span.org/video/?421224-1/education-secretary-nominee-betsy-devos-testifies-confirmation-hearing.

-Kane