Founders had different idea

If all the rules and regulations by which we are forced to live are such good ideas, why are so many of them promulgated unilaterally? Why were the checks and balances the Founders built into our system of government abandoned? We're taught in school that basic rules in the form of laws have to be approved by both houses of Congress, then the ... (more)

Transgender Students, For-Profit Colleges And Changes To The SAT

In technical terms, the departments of Justice and Education this week rescinded Obama-era guidance on the interpretation of Title IX, the law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. In symbolic terms, the Trump administration backed away from endorsing transgender civil rights on the federal level, at least as they concern students.

One month in, anti-Trump movement shows signs of sustained momentum

People chant outside of The Stonewall Inn during a protest against the Trump administration's move to rescind guidance allowing transgender students to use the bathrooms of their choice, in Manhattan, New York, U.S., February 23, 2017. People listen during a protest against the Trump administration's move to rescind guidance allowing transgender students to use the bathrooms of their choice, in Manhattan, New York, U.S., February 23, 2017.

Senate Democrats seek answers about a Trump higher ed task force

Betsy DeVos greets Sen. Patty Murray before her confirmation hearing on Jan. 17. DeVos took office as education secretary on Feb. 7. Senate Democrats are asking Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for details on a higher education task force that the president of Liberty University says the Trump administration has asked him to lead. In a letter to DeVos released Thursday, six lawmakers said they are concerned that there has been no public explanation by the president or the administration about the purview of the task force.

Feds’ disability education website: Still down, still no response

Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., They are asking U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos when a popular website explaining the federal Individuals With Disabilities Act will again be available to the public. It has been down for three weeks, supposedly for technical difficulties.

Betsy DeVos confirmed as Education secretary

Democrats said she had no experience as an educator, administrator or even as a parent or student in public schools. Betsy DeVos confirmed Education secretary; Pence casts deciding vote Democrats said she had no experience as an educator, administrator or even as a parent or student in public schools.

School choice advocates see ally in GOP Gov. Sununu

Advocates of school choice see an ally in Gov. Chris Sununu, New Hampshire's first Republican governor in a dozen years. Sununu has opined on the need for parents to have more choice, nominated a businessman who homeschooled his kids to lead the education department, and supports legislation that would allow some towns to use taxpayer dollars for private school tuition.

DeVos clears Senate hurdle toward becoming ed secy

Betsy DeVos's embattled nomination for education secretary cleared another hurdle in the Senate on Friday as Republicans overpowered fierce resistance from Democrats. Senators voted 52-48 to cut off debate in an early-morning session, setting the stage for a final confirmation vote next week on President Donald Trump's nominee.

DeVos nomination at risk with two…

What previously appeared to be a near-certain chance of Betsy DeVos becoming President Donald Trump's education secretary took a hit Wednesday as two Republican U.S. senators said they would vote against her. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska delivered statements from the floor of the U.S. Senate saying they could not support DeVos' nomination, questioning both her experience and commitment to public schools.

What taxpayers should know about the public cost of school choice

School choice proponents often attack their critics by saying that anyone who doesn't support choice programs - charter schools, voucher programs, tax scholarship credits - love the status quo and don't care that children are trapped in failing traditional public schools. *There are some perfectly awful publicly funded traditional public schools and some severely troubled districts, especially in America's cities.

Under DeVos, Education Department likely to make significant shift on sexual assault

Accompanied by Sen. Tim Scott and former senator Joe Lieberman, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, appears before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing on Tuesday Jan. 17, 2017. The confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for education secretary underscored the likelihood of a significant shift in federal policy on sexual assault in college.

The Latest: NV Democrats will resist private school vouchers

The Latest on Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's State of the State address and two-year budget proposal : Gov. Brian Sandoval's State of the State address included a new announcement about Tesla Motors' plans to expand its operations in northern Nevada with more than 500 additional jobs. Sandoval told lawmakers during a joint session in Carson City Tuesday night that Tesla will expand the factory manufacturing lithium-ion batteries to power its electric cars to include the production of electric motors and gearboxes for its next car, the Model 3. Tesla currently has more than 1,000 full-time employees and 2,000 construction workers on site at the 5 million-square-foot "gigafactory" along U.S. Interstate 80 east of Reno-Sparks.

The Latest: Lieberman returns to Senate to recommend DeVos

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut has returned to Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to support the nomination of Betsy DeVos as secretary of the Education Department. Lieberman asked senators at DeVos' confirmation hearing to "give her a chance to change the status quo" in the nation's schools.

Can school vouchers give kids a shot at a better education?

Can school vouchers give kids a shot at a better education? Education nominee Betsy DeVos faces her first Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2jO8Zme President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos.

News | Sen. Whitehouse Was Investor in For-Profit Charter School Company

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse , who is opposing President-elect Donald Trump's pro-school choice nominee for Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, has had substantial financial interests in for-profit charter school outfit Edison Schools dating back to 2000. Rhode Island State Ethics filings show that Whitehouse held a 10% or greater ownership interest, or a $5,000 or greater ownership investment interest in Edison Schools a for-profit company that was launched by Christopher Whittle and whose leadership included Benno Schmidt - the former President of Yale.