FACE leaders Carey Woodruff and Carole Adams attended the Faith Leaders Summit at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington on November 6 at the invitation of the White House liaison, an office committed “to engage crucial voices.” The 225 attendees from across the country were addressed by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Deputy Secretary Zais, Senior Counsels Eitel, Rubinstein, Brinton, and Thompson, and Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Frank Brogan.
The presentations covered many areas of the department’s work, its ‘cases of interest,’ and the new Education Freedom Scholarships intended to give parents choice over the education of their children.
The stated focus of the Department in the present administration is to remove limitations unconstitutionally placed by former administrations on religious liberty and free speech, and to decentralize education from the federal to the states. Attendees were assured of an ‘open door’ to department staff and services particularly informing the department of local concerns. The day began with an introduction to the spiritual and Biblical history of US education that undergirds American liberty! The day ended with requests for prayer, for dialogue, and for action.
We at FACE call all Christians to pray for Secretary DeVos and her deputies, counsels, and directors who are united in using the present opportunity to empower American parents and communities with best choices for individual families and children.