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Pittsburgh Public Schools Students Protest DeVos' Confirmation

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Education Secretary on Tuesday, which prompted students to protest in Pittsburgh.

This morning, 250 Pittsburgh Public Schools students marched to Sen. Pat Toomey's office in Station Square. As they marched, the students chanted "No ifs, no buts, no education cuts."

The students gathered to send a message to President Donald Trump and his administration.

"Actually hear our voices because we're the only ones who didn't get to vote in the election, but have strong opinions," CAPA senior Sasha Rosenberg said.

Their opinions are directed towards Trump's appointment of DeVos. The students are worried about what will happen to public education with her in charge.

"Her lack of experience in the education system, the fact that she's never taken out a federal loan for school, none of her kids have and a lot of us are juniors or seniors and a lot of us will filling out FAFSAs and going to college," Serena Zets, an organizer, said.

The group started their march in Market Square and made their way to Station Square.

Sen. Toomey voted for the new secretary of education.

Sen. Toomey's office released this statement saying, "I welcome the input of these young people and all of my constituents. I support everyone's right to protest peacefully, but these students should not skip school to do so."

Yesterday's confirmation vote was split 50-50 in the Senate, which prompted Vice President Mike Pence to cast the deciding vote.

It was the first time in history that a vice president needed to break a tie on a Cabinet nomination.

DeVos is a wealthy GOP donor who has devoted herself to boosting alternatives to public education, sparking concerns among educators that she won't be a strong champion for the nation's public school systems.

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