The federal school safety commission set up after the shooting at a Florida high school will not examine the role of guns in school violence, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said.

During a hearing on education spending, DeVos was asked whether the commission that she is chairing will look at guns in the context of school safety, reported CBS News.

“That is not part of the commission’s charge per se,” DeVos told a Senate subcommittee overseeing education spending. “We are actually studying school safety and how we can ensure our students are safe at school.”

CBS News also reported that DeVos’ spokeswoman Liz Hill later clarified in a statement that the commission will look at all the issues the president asked it to study. She added, however, “It’s important to note that the commission cannot create or amend current gun laws_that is the Congress’ job.”

“Nor will the commission look at best practices of foreign nations that have much lower rates of gun violence, DeVos said. Instead, she cited her recent visit to a Maryland elementary school that has moved away from strict discipline practices in favor of softer approaches in creating a positive school climate,” said CBS News.

DeVos said the commission aims to produce a report on best practices by the end of the year, and the panel will examine 27 different issues around school safety.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/06/06/devos-school-safety-panel-role-of-guns/