CASE Statement on Coordinated Attack on Private Colleges from Liberal Education Elitists

“An important education committee meeting in Washington, DC this week will likely showcase the Who’s Who from the elitist education establishment. The usual suspects from the liberal ivory tower will  continue their baseless attacks against private college education and vilify many of the individuals who run these schools. Robert Shireman of The Century Foundation; Tariq Habash, and Yon Cao also from the Century Foundation; education “analyst” David Halperin; and several others are scheduled to attend and speak at a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI).

“Let’s be clear about the motivation of these individuals. They come to the NACIQI meeting with no intention of participating in a thoughtful dialogue on ways to improve private college education – but to amplify unfounded, tired accusations against private schools and level personal attacks against individuals.

“Private, non-profit and for profit education is under relentless assault by these education elites who want full control over America’s education system. Frustrated by the Trump victory and the fact they no longer control the Dept. of Education, the floor of Congress or the White House, liberal education activists are reduced to street theatre or other antics as vehicles to impose an Obama Care version of education on America.

“The attacks on private, non-profit and for-profit and colleges and Universities will not stop until education elites in Washington run these schools out of business. Thankfully, the Department of Education is charting a new course and recognizes the vital role private colleges andUniversities play in providing quality education and job opportunities to millions of students. America faces a skilled worker shortage that numbers more than 6 million people – six million skilled worker jobs remain open in America today. Private, career focused colleges and Universities can help fill this skilled worker gap.

“This activity follows a letter sent by a handful of liberal U.S. Senators to the IRS pressuring the revenue service to give more “scrutiny” to private colleges that are exploring options of becoming non-profit schools. It is blatantly clear how elitist activists and liberal lawmakers in Washington are coordinating their efforts to attack private education. Their aim is to undermine competition and student choice by whatever means possible.

“We at CASE call on the education left to end this needless and unconstructive drumbeat of negativity aimed at private colleges and universities. It’s time to acknowledge the vibrant role these schools play in our education system and work with for-profit and non-profit colleges to find ways to strengthen education in America.”