The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a lawsuit against U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos over a pending rule change to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act that would designate coronavirus relief funds from public schools to help private schools.
The civil lawsuit, which was filed in Washington, D.C., federal court, argues that the pending clause as being “as immoral as it is illegal,” according to ABC News.
DeVos is accused of changing the rules and parameters for how the CARES Act’s designated $13.2 billion — under the Education Stabilization Fund created by President Donald Trump at the beginning of the pandemic — would be distributed to schools.
On Wednesday, Derrick Johnson, the NAACP National President and CEO, spoke with ABC News about the lawsuit. He offered a direct message to DeVos as he detailed the basis of the lawsuit.
“You literally accelerate robbing from the poor to benefit the rich,” Johnson said.
He went on to highlight the clause, in question, that would increase disbursement of funds to private schools while leaving children attending public schools more vulnerable to educational disparities.
See Johnson’s remarks below:
“She’s trying to increase allocation disproportionately for private schools over public schools in the midst of the debate over whether or not schools should reopen,” he said.
Johnson continued, “It’s horrific what she’s doing. What will happen is you further take money away from children who are financially in need to benefit high-wealth children.”
The rule change to the CARES Act has not only been met with opposition from the NAACP, but also lawmakers and educational systems.
Back in May, Jennifer McCormick (R), superintendent of public instruction in Indiana, tweeted her concerns about the CARES Act clause as she criticized DeVos for “playing political games” with the distribution of school funding.
“IN will distribute funds according to Congressional intent and a plain reading of the law,” McCormick tweeted. “I will not play political agenda games with COVID relief funds. Our most at-risk students depend on this commitment.”
IN will distribute funds according to Congressional intent and a plain reading of the law.
— Jennifer McCormick⭐️ (@mccormickforgov) May 12, 2020
I will not play political agenda games with COVID relief funds. Our most at-risk students depend on this commitment. https://t.co/Jrp56vxR1e
Despite the lawsuit, the Department of Education has denied the allegations. DeVos said, “There is nothing in the law Congress passed that would allow districts to discriminate against children and teachers based on private school attendance and employment.”