Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos released the following statement after meeting with presidents and chancellors of Historically Black Colleges and Universities at the White House:

A key priority for this administration is to help develop opportunities for communities that are often the most underserved. Rather than focus solely on funding, we must be willing to make the tangible, structural reforms that will allow students to reach their full potential.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have done this since their founding. They started from the fact that there were too many students in America who did not have equal access to education. They saw that the system wasn’t working, that there was an absence of opportunity, so they took it upon themselves to provide the solution.

HBCUs are real pioneers when it comes to school choice. They are living proof that when more options are provided to students, they are afforded greater access and greater quality. Their success has shown that more options help students flourish.

Their counsel and guidance will be crucial in addressing the current inequities we face in education. I look forward to working with the White House to elevate the role of HBCUs in this administration and to solve the problems we face in education today.

A nice fluffy statement. Plays well no doubt with certain elements, likely Trump’s most ardent supporters.

We look forward to reading exactly:

A) What does the administration view specifically as the top three major issues facing higher education in the underserved communities?
B) What specifically are the tangible structural reforms DeVos is referring to. How are the projected changes going to provide greater opportunity?
C) Does the rather than focus solely on funding really mean expect funding cuts? If so how much and what will be cut?

Just some immediate thoughts. Given Trump’s track record it is hard to accept this statement as anything but fluff. Fluff with code to satisfy his base.