DeVos Confirmation Hearings Begin

A U.S. Senate committee begins a confirmation hearing for west Michigan Republican Betsy DeVos who has been nominated as Education Secretary.

DeVos is widely expected to push for expanding school choice programs if confirmed.

But such a move is certain to bring pushback from teachers unions.

Democrats and civil rights activists also are raising concerns about how her conservative Christian beliefs might impact minority and LGBT students.

DeVos spent the past two decades advancing charter schools.

She also has pushed for vouchers, which use public money to help low income families send their kids to private and religious schools of their choice.