A federal judge has blocked Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ effort to send more pandemic relief funding to private school students.
Politico reported U.S District Judge James Donato in California stopped DeVos from enforcing her plan in at least eight states. Her policy had mandated public school districts send a greater share of their CARES Act funding to private school students than is usually required by federal law, according to the news outlet.
Under the court order, DeVos is unable to carry out her policy in Michigan, California, Maine, Hawaii, New Mexico, Maryland, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Public school districts in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Cleveland are also included.
Last Friday, Senior U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein in Seattle had issued a similar ruling blocking more pandemic money to private schools from the CARES Act. But Politico noted there has been a dispute about whether that particular order applied nationwide. DeVos is reportedly seeking clarification about that order.
The Washington Post said critics have been blasting the DeVos plan, claiming she was pushing her agenda to privatize the public education system.
In the latest ruling, Donato ruled that the DeVos plan is likely to be struck down because she lacks the authority to order her own conditions on coronavirus relief funding for K-12 schools, according to Politico.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who led the legal challenge, hailed the ruling. She tweeted on Wednesday: “Big win for Michigan kids! Thanks to my hardworking staff who argued this important case. #SupportPublicSchools.”
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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