Next Stimulus: Trump Wants Money For Private Schools

White House Coronavirus Task Force Holds Daily Briefing — President Trump is expected to ask Congress to include money for private schools in the next … [+] stimulus. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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Congress is set to pass another stimulus bill by the end of the month. Enhanced unemployment benefits will soon expire and Congress is expected to address that in some way given the continued high unemployment claims. In addition, lawmakers are considering stimulus checks, money for state and local governments, and additional relief for schools.

According to recent reports, President Trump is expected to ask Congress to include money for private schools in the next stimulus package. Trump’s request is for a grant for states to give non-profit organizations money for scholarships to pay for students to attend religious and other private schools.

In recent weeks, both Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos have pushed DeVos’ Education Freedom Scholarships as part of their education agenda. This type of grant funding would support that effort.

Some proponents of private education support vouchers, where the government would help pay for students to attend private schools. DeVos’ “freedom scholarships” are similar but instead would give people a tax break to donate to the non-profit organizations issuing scholarships. Advocates supporting these proposals say that they—along with vouchers and charter schools—provide parents and kids “choice” in their education.

Trump has pushed this on the campaign trail and at press conferences. In multiple instances, he has said “school choice is the civil rights statement of the year.”

DeVos herself has been criticized for her use of the CARES Act dollars to send money to private schools. Earlier this spring, DeVos said she would require public school districts to use CARES Act funds on private school students in their districts. Republican members of Congress even disagreed with DeVos, as did the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

It’s difficult to imagine this plan will make it through the Democratically-controlled House. As House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) told McClatchy, “House Democrats will not waste time on proposals that undermine public education.”