Could Betsy DeVos' School Choice Lead To Major Legislature Changes?

School choice lets parents choose alternatives instead of publicly provided schools and the Donald Trump-picked new Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos made it clear in a number of statements and during her senate confirmation that she is an advocate of the process. Many believe the possible new programs to be presented by DeVos and the Trump administration regarding school choice will bring about major changes in the legislature.

America Magazine reported DeVos promised she will not be destroying the public education system but she will only be supporting the great public schools and those that still have the ability to deliver quality education. She added during her confirmation before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that why are parents still being questioned regarding their ability to exercise educational choice for their children at this day and age. She continued, "I am a firm believer that parents should be empowered to choose the learning environment that's best for their individual children."

The 59-year-old billionaire revealed more plans for the Department of Education noting her department will also address the rising higher education costs as well as student debt. She did not say, however, how these will all be rolled out.

According to Lincoln Journal Star, the possible legislature changes if the school choice will be more available in the different states in the country. Nebraska state Senator Lou Ann Linehan said there should be an open and honest discussion about education in their state.

Linehan is one of the sponsors of the LB662 bill wherein the Nebraska Board of Education will be required to establish an A-F grading scale to measure the performance of the public schools in the area. Another bill sponsored by Linehan is LB608, which aims to provide vouchers for students to attend private school if their local school would be one of the lowest performing schools.

Such measures were blocked in the past but school choice advocates believe that this time around, with Trump as the president and DeVos as the Secretary of Education, these bills will be passed. The changes in education in the United States are yet to be seen.