Schools may be able spend federal money to arm teachers, but it won’t be the Department of Education’s decision.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos responded Friday to House Democratic lawmakers who called on her to nix internal considerations over whether to permit federal funds to be used by states and school districts for weapons and appropriate training for staff members.
“Let me be clear: I have no intention of taking any action concerning the purchase of firearms or firearms training for school staff under the ESEA,” DeVos wrote. “Congress did not authorize me or the Department to make those decisions.”
.@BetsyDeVosED “Let me be clear: I have no intention of taking any action concerning the purchase of firearms or firearms training for school staff under the ESEA…Congress did not authorize me or the Department to make those decisions.” pic.twitter.com/xbH8UTtZLZ
— ED Press Secretary (@EDPressSec) August 31, 2018
DeVos’ reply follows a Tuesday letter from Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who wrote to her in their capacity as the top Democrats on the House Education and Workforce Committee and the Judiciary Committee, respectively. Their note condemning the possible Department of Education move was signed by almost every member of the House Democratic caucus.
The New York Times reported last Wednesday that the Education Department was assessing a proposal to allow money allocated for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program to be spent on financing the controversial school safety measures. The program was created by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA, a piece of legislation that was amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, to improve access to educational opportunities. It specifies that the funding is designated to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, improve school conditions for student learning, and improve the use of technology to help students’ academic achievement and digital literacy.
But CNN published a follow-up report the next day detailing how the idea did not originate with the Trump administration. Instead, lawyers and researchers were only asked for advice and guidance after the department received the suggestion from the Texas Education Agency, according to the cable news network.
DeVos’ letter Friday deflects responsibility for how the funds in question can be directed to Congress as well as states and local communities.
“I will not legislate via fiat from the Department,” the letter states.
Her letter comes after a leading Education Department official told the Associated Press Friday that lower levels of government have always “had the flexibility” to distribute federal education funds how they saw fit. The official’s thinking is reflected in an early draft of the federal commission on school safety’s report, which states the choice to arm teachers and personnel should be “based on the unique circumstances of each school,” the AP reported.
