President Trump talks with leaders of historically black colleges and universities before posing for a group photo in the Oval Office in February. Those naysayers got more ammunition on Friday after the White House released a signing statement connected to the recently approved federal funding measure. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s first visit to a school was to Howard University, the federally chartered historically black college in the District of Columbia. Historically black colleges have often looked to Democrats as natural allies, but over the past 50 years or so, HBCUs have had bipartisan support, with relatively steady funding over that time. Student and parent debt and low graduation rates have long been concerns for many historically black colleges, but their proponents say they are essential in educating black leaders.

Source: Washington Post May 06, 2017 20:37 UTC