Betsy DeVos, the choice of President-elect Donald Trump to lead the US Department of Education, sparred with some lawmakers during her confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
At one point, DeVos appeared to get stuck on a question asked by Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota.
Franken asked DeVos to clarify her position on measuring student progress — specifically, the debate between proficiency versus growth.
DeVos asked for clarification after first conflating the meanings of the two concepts.
"This is a subject that has been debated in the education community for years," Franken told DeVos. "It surprises me that you don't know this issue."
Watch DeVos' exchange with Franken here:
Sen. Al Franken discovers Trump Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos doesn't know the difference between proficiency and growth. pic.twitter.com/QFQchwHhuc
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 18, 2017On a question about guns on school campuses, DeVos gave an answer that generated considerable conversation on social media.
After suggesting that gun rules should be left up to local and state lawmakers, DeVos offered that schools in some areas may need a gun on campus to protect from grizzly bears.
Watch DeVos answer the gun question here:
Betsy DeVos may or may not support guns in schools because of grizzly bears. #DeVosHearing pic.twitter.com/kpHWwz1PED
— deray mckesson (@deray) January 18, 2017DeVos was grilled by several lawmakers on the Senate Health, Labor, Education, and Pensions Committee on Tuesday. During the hearing, she vowed not to undo public education in the US, the Associated Press reported.
DeVos' critics have said some of her policies would hurt public schools and students. Her supporters have said DeVos has the leadership capacity to revive the US education system.
