The Bangor Daily News reports:
As of Tuesday, Maine is the latest state to join a federal case suing the Department of Education over their decision to reallocate relief funding designated for public schools to instead benefit private education.
The lawsuit is spear-headed by California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra and Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel. Later joined by the state of Maine, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been named in the suit as a defendant.
Becerra claims the department had unlawfully interpreted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, o0f which dedicated $13.2 billion in federal aid to schools in low-income areas.
Instead, the department will allow school districts to get funds based on their total student population. Leaving tens of millions of relief dollars to be diverted away from poor urban and rural school districts, and instead going to private institutions with tuitions similar to that charged by private colleges.
Becerra stated that “Today’s announcement is about stopping the Trump administration’s latest effort to steal from working families and give it to the very privileged.”
The Department of Education has yet to comment on the litigation. However, DeVos has said that only ~$195 million has been used and state governors have not yet taken advantage of the funding.
