File photo taken on July 16, 2016 shows Donald Trump speaking at a campaign event in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday nominated Betsy DeVos to head the Department of Education, the first female pick for his cabinet.
In a statement released on his website, Trumps said "DeVos is a highly successful education advocated, businesswoman and philanthropist."
"Under her leadership we will reform the U.S. education system......so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families," the statement said.
The nomination needs to be confirmed by Congress.
DeVos is a prominent supporter of the school voucher system, in which the government distribute education funds directly to parents in the form of vouchers, allowing the parents to send their children to the school of their choice.
DeVos argues such mechanism can boost competition among schools, which benefit education quality.
But the policy has also attracted much criticism, especially from teacher unions, which say standardized education will be threatened.
DeVos is a Michigan native who has been a long-time donor for the Republican Party.
