betsy devos demands schools fully reopen

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President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos are threatening to cut federal funding if schools don't fully physically reopen, increasing pressure on education leaders as the Trump administration intensifies its drive to get kids back in classrooms.

Trump on Wednesday morning tweeted, "In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!"

But Vice President Mike Pence conceded that most education spending does not come out of federal coffers during a briefing at Education Department headquarters on Wednesday. He said the Trump administration will instead work with Congress on the next coronavirus emergency relief bill on ways to push states to reopen schools.

“At this point, 90 percent of education funding comes from the states. Roughly 10 percent, depending on states' budgets, comes from the federal government,” Pence told reporters. “And as we work with Congress on the next round of state support, we're going to be looking for ways to give states a strong incentive and encouragement to get kids back to school.”

Pence noted another caveat to the White House’s growing pressure to reopen schools: Some buildings might have to limit their operations as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in some parts of the U.S.

“There may be some states and local communities that, given cases or positivity in that community, may adjust to either a certain set of days, or certain limitations. And we'll be very respectful of that,” the vice president said.

“What the President’s made clear, though, is that we think it's absolutely imperative that every state and territory in this country take steps to get kids back in the classroom to the fullest extent possible. We really believe that that every state has the ability to do that. But for those individual communities that may be seeing outbreaks, we'll work with them, give them the guidance and the support to be able to implement the policies that they deem are most appropriate.”

On Tuesday night, DeVos said she is “very seriously” looking at withholding federal funds from schools that don't open their doors this fall.

“Kids have got to continue learning,” she told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson during an interview late Tuesday. “Schools have got to open up, there has got to be concerted effort to address the needs of all kids and adults who are fear mongering and making excuses simply have got to stop doing it and turn their attention on what is right for students and for their families.”

Federal funding for K-12 schools includes billions for low-income schools and special education. But education leaders immediately questioned how the administration would propose to hold back those funds or others.

"To be clear: there is no mechanism by which they can decide to magically withhold funding without Congressional authorization," tweeted Sasha Pudelski, advocacy director for AASA, The School Superintendents Association.

Evan Hollander, spokesperson for the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement that Trump doesn't have the authority to withhold federal funding.

"President Trump is repeating the same mistakes that have made America’s coronavirus pandemic the worst in the world, attempting to override science in search of political advantage," Hollander said. "When it comes to our schools, Congress funds federal education programs that serve some of the most vulnerable young people in our country. The President has no authority to cut off funding for these students, and threatening to do so to prop up his flailing campaign is offensive."

The DeVos interview followed events at the White House Tuesday on reopening schools as the Trump campaign also zeroes in on the issue, seizing on former Vice President Joe Biden’s support of teachers unions and asking him whether he’s committed to helping parents get their kids back to school.

During a White House roundtable discussion, Trump warned that he would “put pressure” on reluctant governors.

DeVos, speaking on Fox News, said there is “no excuse” for schools not to reopen and for kids not to learn again full time.

“This is more an issue of adults who are more interested in their own issues than they are about serving their students,” she said.

Carlson pressed DeVos on whether her department would withhold federal funding, and DeVos noted that more than 90 percent of money for schools comes from state and local governments.

Asked again about withholding funding, she said, “We are looking at this very seriously.”

DeVos repeated her praise for Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran for issuing a “very comprehensive” reopening plan in August for at least five days per week for all students. And she blasted a school district in suburban, D.C. — presumably, Fairfax County, Va. — for having “an absolute disaster” in the spring and offering a choice of only zero or two days of in-person instruction this fall.

“That’s not a choice,” she said. “That’s a pretense of a choice. So more and more families are at a point of demanding that their kids could be able to continue to learn and they want more options and choices for their kids, too.”

I don't care what people think; I'm NOT ruining my last year of high school with COVID-19!

Thus, I will probably wear a mask to school if my school gets fully reopened.

I believe Warrier will take the proper precautions without being browbeaten.

since she was given the office, devos has done absolutely nothing it it that has actually helped average students.

like she might be the most useless secretary of education of all time.

OTOH i don't understand anyone who wastes their time replying to don on twitter. do they actually think he reads all that crap? he hardly reads, period.