re: Democrats are picking the wrong battle by going nuts over DeVos

Most people on here don't know what 99% of federal departments really do.

The Department of Commerce is a great example. What people think it does and what it actually does are hilariously incongruous.

So you're asserting the teachers union gave 2000 times what devos did? Well she admitted she and her family have given $200,000,000. So you're saying the teachers union (whichever one you're trying to refer to) gave like $4x10^11?!?

I need a link for that claim, chief

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Yeah, I think the money mostly goes to Pell Grants, then Title I programs, then Special Ed?

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This is mostly correct, and Special Ed money already follows the student.

ETA: What sucks about Special Ed money is that none of it is protected for Gifted students. They are easily the most under-served student population in our nation. That should tell you everything you need to know about what our education system values.

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how much did she give? How much did the teachers union give

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Sanders: “Mrs. DeVos, there is a growing fear, I think, in this country that we are moving toward what some would call an oligarchic form of society, where a small number of very, very wealthy billionaires control, to a significant degree, our economic and political life. Would you be so kind as to tell us how much your family has contributed to the Republican Party over the years?”

DeVos: “Senator, first of all thank you for that question. I again was pleased to meet you in your office last week. I wish I could give you that number. I don’t know.”

Sanders: “I have heard the number was $200 million. Does that sound in the ballpark?”

DeVos: “Collectively? Between my entire family?”

Sanders: “Yeah, over the years.”

DeVos: “That’s possible”

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How so? Both of my kids are in the gifted program, and I've been really impressed with the program. I guess it varies from district to district though.

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You are correct that it varies from district to district. You are fortunate that your system sets aside local funds for your gifted program. Unless they receive a grant, they are not receiving other funds required to be used for that. There is no requirement that they spend any money on Gifted students, and even in states where there is there is no requirement that the Gifted program actually be in service of Gifted students. Many areas are doing "enrichment" programs now where they expand the "gifted" program to include all students because people don't truly understand what it means to be gifted and get hurt when their smart child isn't in the program.

The difference is that other special ed funds must be used on children with those actual needs. Gifted children are being left out in the current system being used in most areas. My oldest daughter scores in the 99th percentile in every section of the ACT Aspire exam, and basically breaks every measure they use for "gifted" testing, and the Enrichment program used here is just completely boring to her and does not address the other issues that come with being a Gifted student. It's to the point where we would rather she skip grades, but that then runs into developmental issues in other areas. This is a common frustration with parents of actual gifted children, and it all leads back to how our special ed funding completely ignores gifted kids.

ETA: There is no more glaring example of how our education system focuses on the lowest common denominator, instead of excellence and advancement of all students, than how we ignore gifted children.