Reston, VA—NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti issued the following statement on U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s proposal to allow gun purchases and firearm training for educators with federal funds appropriated under Title IV, part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act:

“NASSP condemns in the strongest possible terms DeVos’s proposal to use Title IV funds for guns. It’s a perverse distortion of Title IV’s goal of enhancing student learning. Under the guise of flexibility, the secretary continues to abdicate her responsibility to advance sound, research-based efforts to safeguard students and ignores the consensus of educators and experts who have addressed the Federal Commission on School Safety since its inception.”

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and voice for principals and other school leaders across the United States. NASSP seeks to transform education through school leadership, recognizing that the fulfillment of each student’s potential relies on great leaders in every school committed to the success of each student. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor SocietyNational Junior Honor SocietyNational Elementary Honor Society, and National Student Council.