Would it help if folks contact their senators about the education nominee?

I have a daughter who works in government and covers some of the key areas which will be in Trump's crazy line of fire, but fortunately her job is not in line with the executive branch. She did say career folks all over are very apprehensive about how what they write or say now in policy as you just can't tell how it will be regarded. All you can do right now in terms of education is hold on, keep a vigilant eye out on what may impact your child. This woman was given the job because of her money and political connections on the donation side and probably to keep "the right" happy. I do think there is enough case law to keep IDEA regulations in place, but it may well be all about enforcement, and state and local jurisdictions who do not want to be strong on IDEA may well feel they have more on their side should a law suit be filed.

Anonymous wrote:I think we need to go out of our way to support Sen. Maggie Hassan, the brand new senator from New Hampshire. She is one of us.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/01/18/devos-unfamiliarity-with-civil-rights-law-for-students-with-disabilities-concerns-hassan/eaRGm1bAzUy9PG2RCl5Q8M/story.html

I was listening to the testimony live last night and thought she was fabulous!

I think we need to go out of our way to support Sen. Maggie Hassan, the brand new senator from New Hampshire. She is one of us.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/01/18/devos-unfamiliarity-with-civil-rights-law-for-students-with-disabilities-concerns-hassan/eaRGm1bAzUy9PG2RCl5Q8M/story.html

Anonymous wrote:Sessions basically said that he doesn't think SN kids should be taking up time in classrooms. He said that SN kids are why schools are failing. Nice guy, huh? Here is a quote:

“We have created a complex system of federal regulations and laws that have created lawsuit after lawsuit, special treatment for certain children, and that are a big factor in accelerating the decline in civility and discipline in classrooms all over America. I say that very sincerely,” Sessions said.

Here is a link to what Jeff Sessions thinks about IDEA: http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/floor-statements?ID=a7977b1d-7e9c-9af9-753e-8f3a8b3b43fb

Let me start by saying that I'm not fan of Jeff Sessions and 2 of my 3 kids have SN. I read the article you linked and came away with something different. I got that he was speaking out about kids with SN disrupting the classroom and interfering with the learning of others. As I was reading it, my first thought was that Alabama has not correctly implemented appropriate interventions and placements for the kids that are so disruptive. That teachers think suspension is an appropriate response is appalling and speaks to poor training. Mr. Session also brings up that Congress has underfunded the states! The implication is that states are compelled by law to strive for inclusion but don't have sufficient funding to do it correctly.

"First, I want to mention that when Congress passed the IDEA—Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—in 1975, we committed to pay the states, whom we were requiring to do it—we require these states to meet these standards. We agreed to pay 40 percent of the cost. We have never paid more than 15 percent of the cost. It has been below 10 percent in most years. We had testimony in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, of which I am a member, from a superintendent in Vermont who testified to our committee that 20 percent of the cost of the school system in his county is for special education children. This is a major factor in education today. Let me share some stories with you about this."

Sessions basically said that he doesn't think SN kids should be taking up time in classrooms. He said that SN kids are why schools are failing. Nice guy, huh? Here is a quote:

“We have created a complex system of federal regulations and laws that have created lawsuit after lawsuit, special treatment for certain children, and that are a big factor in accelerating the decline in civility and discipline in classrooms all over America. I say that very sincerely,” Sessions said.

Here is a link to what Jeff Sessions thinks about IDEA: http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/floor-statements?ID=a7977b1d-7e9c-9af9-753e-8f3a8b3b43fb

Bernie Sanders questioning was enjoyable
Elizabeth Warren's was pointed

If you have not watched either (neither are point on IDEA) I would recommend.

Anonymous wrote:Lawsuits. Lots of lawsuits. IDEA is well established in federal law. Dismantling it will be hard. In this regard Jeff Sessions is scarier than DeVos because he is more informed and still opposes it.

What exactly did Sessions say about IDEA?

Anonymous wrote:This woman has been a nightmare for Michigan Schools. She basically wants to privatize everything and eliminate public schools all together. Her philosophy is basically that there's nothing that privatization and Jesus can't solve. Listen to the head of the Federation of Teachers has to say: http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2017/01/17/randi-weingarten-betsy-devos

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/senators-to-scrutinize-betsy-devos-trumps-pick-for-education-secretary/2017/01/17/3a0e6168-da8f-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html?utm_term=.1f12d1116d46

+1 to all of this. I am from MI and have many family members and friends there who are current and former teachers at public and private schools (many of whom are Republicans and conservative Christians as well). They are aghast at the idea of DeVos running the Dept. of Education.

Anonymous wrote:Lawsuits. Lots of lawsuits. IDEA is well established in federal law. Dismantling it will be hard. In this regard Jeff Sessions is scarier than DeVos because he is more informed and still opposes it.

Dismantling will be hard but if there is no threat of enforcement beyond private lawsuits from parents who can ill-afford to fund something like that while struggling to pay for all the therapies, etc., then it is game over. Plus with the repubs running the show you can expect defunding from the feds, leaving the states responsible for funding. Which they will not do, for the most part.

This is so depressing.

Anonymous wrote:Lawsuits. Lots of lawsuits. IDEA is well established in federal law. Dismantling it will be hard. In this regard Jeff Sessions is scarier than DeVos because he is more informed and still opposes it.

Can you speak to how hard it would be to dismantle, and how much damage a department under her control could do in 4 years?

I'm offended that she seemed to be using minority and a child with sNs as "props". She also lied. No o e is accidentally listed as a VP on a 990!

She did not know what IDEA was. Kudos to Tim Kaine for his deposition style questioning.

How can someone run the department of education who has never been in any kind of public school? Or sent her children to one? This is appalling.

I'm calling senate offices this morning after school drop off.

Lawsuits. Lots of lawsuits. IDEA is well established in federal law. Dismantling it will be hard. In this regard Jeff Sessions is scarier than DeVos because he is more informed and still opposes it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you go work for her? I could apply and I am decidedly not crazy and am smart and reasonable. I hope good people do go into gov't service. But is it career suicide to be associated with this administration? Would you work for her just to attempt to mitigate the situation?

They are instituting a hiring freeze for career positions. There will be some political appointees but you would have to have been affiliated with the Trump campaign or maybe be a very connected person from the Hill or heritage foundation. She also has a foundation that has helped try to expand vouchers for private school. Imagine those folks will follow her.

All PPs points are true, it will be hard to get in if you're not already there. BUT I hope that across the government, you're not alone with your idea. My optimistic side keeps saying that even with some of these picks, it'll be ok because there are agencies of civil servants who believe in the mission, understand the technical details and can mitigate some of the 'crazy.'

Anonymous wrote:Would you go work for her? I could apply and I am decidedly not crazy and am smart and reasonable. I hope good people do go into gov't service. But is it career suicide to be associated with this administration? Would you work for her just to attempt to mitigate the situation?

They are instituting a hiring freeze for career positions. There will be some political appointees but you would have to have been affiliated with the Trump campaign or maybe be a very connected person from the Hill or heritage foundation. She also has a foundation that has helped try to expand vouchers for private school. Imagine those folks will follow her.