Can education really be returned to the states? Linda McMahon's tour explains how it happens
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has embarked on a nationwide tour aimed at promoting the administration's goal of dismantling the Department of Education and returning control of education policy to the states.
The "Returning Education to the States Tour" will take McMahon across all 50 states, beginning in Louisiana, where she met with local leadership and educators to discuss strategies for improving education outcomes.
This initiative comes amid legal and congressional challenges to the Trump administration's efforts to downsize the Department of Education. The department currently oversees federal student loan programmes, distributes grants for low-income schools, and enforces non-discrimination policies, though it does not set curriculum standards.
Tour highlights state resources over federal mandates
During her visit to Louisiana, McMahon emphasised that the tour aims to share best practices and resources states can adopt to improve education. She told CBS News, 'These are things that you can choose from. These are things that have been successful in other states. It's not a mandate,' as reported by CBS News.
McMahon said local school systems must determine the curricula and learning methods best suited to their communities.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
NRIs Living In Bulgaria Are Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension. Invest 18K/Month
investmentlife.policybazaar
Get Offer
Undo
'That's why it's imperative that education be returned to the states because when states are creative and innovative, you will see the kind of progress that you've seen here in Louisiana,' she added, as reported by CBS News.
Louisiana's progress under scrutiny
Louisiana has been highlighted as the only state to show improvement in elementary literacy since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a review of fourth-grade standardised testing scores by The Nation's Report Card.
Since 2019, Louisiana's ranking has improved from last place to 16th in the nation, while Massachusetts remains the top-ranked state despite a decline in scores.
This progress was supported by over $5 billion in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds allocated to education in Louisiana. These funds have been used for additional teacher training and outreach efforts to support struggling students.
Cade Brumley, Louisiana's State Superintendent of Education, expressed support for the federal initiative, saying, 'We were able to use those pandemic dollars around the academic efforts that we knew were best for students in the state of Louisiana and that really worked,' as reported by CBS News.
He added that loosening restrictions on funding could enable more effective local decision-making.
Federal funding and special education concerns
President Trump's executive order in March began the process of dismantling the Department of Education, including cutting roughly half its workforce. The Supreme Court allowed these cuts to continue despite ongoing legal challenges.
McMahon addressed concerns about the impact of dismantling the department on special education funding.
'That is the least worry that anyone should have because Congress appropriates that money and it flows through whichever agency will be distributing it,' she said, as quoted by CBS News.
Currently, the department provides special education grants supplementing state funding for over 7.5 million students with disabilities. It remains unclear which agency would manage these grants if the department is fully disbanded.
The future of federal education oversight
The Department of Education accounts for less than 4% of the federal budget, with responsibilities that include managing student loans and distributing grants. Fully abolishing the department would require congressional approval, which faces opposition from Democrats concerned about the impact on students and families relying on federal funding.
As McMahon continues her tour, the administration aims to showcase how states can take greater control over education while reducing federal oversight. The approach focuses on flexibility, localised decision-making, and sharing of successful strategies from states like Louisiana.
TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us
here
.
Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
27 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Ireland shaped by migration, shared spaces should not be poisoned by hate': Irish President on racist attacks on Indians
Irish President Michael D Higgins has reacted to the recent incident of racial attacks targeting members of the Indian community in Ireland. In a statement, President Higgins termed the recent incidents despicable and 'in stark contradiction to the values that we as a people hold dear.' Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on recent attacks on members of the Indian Community in Ireland — President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 12, 2025 President Higgins also thanked the Indian community in Ireland for their services in various fields of life. 'We are all mindful of the immense contribution this community has made, and continues to make, to so many aspects of Irish life, in medicine, nursing, the caring professions, in cultural life, in business and enterprise, to cite just some. Their presence, their work, their culture, have been a source of enrichment and generosity to our shared life,' he said. Reflecting on the history of the country, President Higgins also recalled how migration shaped Ireland. 'Ireland has long been shaped by migration, both outward and inward. Those who left our shores carried our culture and values into faraway lands, often depending on the generosity of strangers,' he said.'That shared human experience should remain at the heart of how we treat those who have come to make their lives here. To forget that is to lose a part of ourselves,' he added. The Irish President also warned against the use of social media to spread messages of hate. 'Our shared spaces — including social media platforms — should never be poisoned from messages of hate or incitement to violence. Such messages not only target individuals, but also damage and corrode the most fundamental and enduring instincts of Irishness: those of hospitality, friendship, and care for others,' he said. A string of racially motivated attacks on Indians, including on a six-year-old girl who was punched in the face and hit in the genital area, had sent shock waves across the Indian community in Ireland. Condemning the racist attacks, the Irish Embassy in India said there was no place for racism and xenophobia in Ireland. Statement from Embassy New Delhi 📄 🇮🇪🇮🇳 — Irish Embassy India (@IrlEmbIndia) August 8, 2025 Ireland is home to around 80,000 people who trace their roots to India, including NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). Indians have made their presence felt in Ireland's healthcare, information technology, engineering and other sectors.
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Not right', says deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar as more cities join Independence Day meat ban in Maharashtra
Thane: With protests intensifying against Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's (KDMC) order to shut all slaughterhouses and meat shops in its jurisdiction on Independence Day, deputy CM Ajit Pawar Tuesday said he did not agree with the ban. "I can understand a ban for a few days when it is a question of faith.... But a ban on national days will be difficult," he said. Amid the controversy, a few more municipal corporations, including Nagpur and Malegaon, Tuesday decided to ban meat and animal slaughter on Aug 15. KDMC additional municipal commissioner Yogesh Godse said the order is in line with a 1989 state govt directive implemented annually in several corporations. "This is not a ban on eating meat. Anyone can consume meat if they choose, but slaughterhouses and shops will remain shut for the day," he said. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Gold Rates Today in Mumbai | Silver Rates Today in Mumbai Municipal commissioner Abhinav Goel said KDMC has issued the order for the last 15 years. "If people are protesting, we will definitely take their sentiments into account," he said. While urban development department principal secretary K H Govindraj did not respond to media queries, officials clarified there is no state govt mandate for a meat ban on Independence Day, and local bodies decide on such matters based on civic resolutions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 5 Books Warren Buffett Recommends You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The KDMC order has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, citizens, and the Hindu Khatik community, which is traditionally engaged in the meat trade, who argued that the ban infringes on personal choice and unfairly targets a particular community. Among the voices against the ban was Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya Thackeray who demanded suspension of the KDMC commissioner. "What we eat on Independence Day is our right. In my home, even on Navratri, our prasad includes prawns and fish — this is our tradition and our Hinduism," Thackeray said. Calling out the KDMC order, Pawar said: "I can understand a ban for a few days when it is a question of faith. For instance, on Ashadhi Ekadashi, Mahashivratri and Mahavir Jayanti. But a ban on national days like Republic or Independence Day, will be difficult. In our country and state, some people are vegetarian and others are non-vegetarian." He added that in several communities, non-vegetarian fare was part of the traditional cuisine. "In the Konkan, people add fish to their vegetables. It is not correct to ban their food. In the rural areas, people cut a goat before an event. Even the adivasi community is largely non-vegetarian," he pointed out. Shiv Sena MLA Vishwanath Bhoir, however, supported the KDMC order, remarking that "no one will be harmed by not eating meat for a day". Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh accused KDMC of arbitrarily targeting a particular community. "These bans hurt the local economy and farming sector. Such orders are never imposed on fish markets — only on meat traders," he said. NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad condemned the ban, claiming it violates personal freedom. He even vowed to eat mutton at a house in Dombivli on Aug 15 in protest. Former MNS MLA Pramod Patil also lashed out at KDMC and asked whether non-vegetarian restaurants, like KFC and McDonald's, would also be forced to down shutters on Aug 15. "No such ban exists in Thane, Ulhasnagar, or Navi Mumbai. Why has our commissioner decided this? Everyone has the freedom to eat what they want," Patil said, demanding the order's immediate withdrawal and urging police to ensure peace. The Hindu Khatik community has warned of staging a symbolic protest by setting up a meat shop outside the KDMC office on Aug 15 if the order is not withdrawn. (Inputs by Priyanka Kakodkar) Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'I don't see Russia being serious about negotiations': Estonia's permanent secretary general of ministry of defence Kaimo Kuusk
Kaimo Kuusk - Estonia's permanent secretary general of ministry of defence Trump and Putin are slated to meet in Alaska on Aug 15 to try and facilitate a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. However, many in Ukraine and Europe remain sceptical that the Alaksa talks will yield anything substantial since neither Zelenskyy nor European representatives are going to be present. Estonia, a frontline state in the Baltics, has stakes in this war. Kaimo Kuusk , Estonia's permanent secretary general of ministry of defence, who was also Estonia's ambassador to Ukraine, spoke to Rudroneel Ghosh during a visit to Tallinn in May, about the trajectory of the war, Russia's gameplan and Nato's startegy for the future: Do you think a ceasefire could be achieved in Ukraine in the near future? Not on equal terms because Russia is not negotiation on goodwill. From our own Estonian experience we know that Russia is a chronic liar. It just doesn't stick to international treaties. From our independence 100 years ago, they started to violate the treaty almost immediately. In this case as well, I was in Ukraine as ambassador so I saw the Minsk agreements, the Normandy format of negotiations, and how Russia played with the process and did not respect any of the truce agreements. So I don't see Russia being serious in negotiations. The only way to get fair peace for Ukraine is through additional pressure on Russia. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Become Fluent in Any Language Talkpal AI Sign Up Undo Only when Russia understands that time is not on their side and the cost of aggression will rise on the frontline through military aid for Ukraine – which Estonia is giving – and through sanctions and economic pressure on Moscow, will there be any results. What do you make of drones in this war? The role of drones in modern warfare is definitely one of the key lessons of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Different drone types have different tasks, so they have brought almost limitless combinations for their use on the battlefield. Staying ahead of developments is now more important than ever. 'I don't see Russia being serious in negotiations. The only way to get fair peace for Ukraine is through additional pressure on Russia' . Do you have any evidence that Russia is planning a physical attack against Estonia in the near future? We in Estonia through our intelligence work have been able to obtain information about Russia's military plans – separate from defence plans – against the West. They have actually had those plans for years, from the 1990s. This is nothing new for us. We know what we should be prepared for. We know what to expect. But if you are asking whether we have an imminent, clear and present danger, then I am saying no. Because we are well prepared. We are in Nato. And Russian manpower and military equipment are being destroyed on the Ukrainian front because Ukrainians are defending their own country ferociously. But as I mentioned, if Russia gets peace on their terms, the situation beyond our border can start to change rather rapidly. It seems that Russia is testing Nato's resolve to invoke Article 5 or even Article 4 through tactics below a certain threshold across the region. Has Nato responded to these sufficiently? Outside Ukraine, we have reacted absolutely well. Measures for vessels in the Baltic Sea, to protect undersea infra, our intel services are working well together to catch and thwart saboteurs targeting assets on Western soil. How to measure how successful we have been? Well, we are living in peace. With fears lingering that Trump might completely pull US support for Ukraine, do you think European members of Nato can step up and fill that gap? US support for Ukraine has been absolutely important throughout the years of Russian aggression. I think US has seen, as we all, that this aggression has connections to other regions as well. Russia is supported by China, and we are already in Asia with that connection. So, if we want to face the threats in the Indo-Pacific region, then we have to deal with this aggression in Ukraine as well. You can't just ignore and leave saying now I am going to fire fight the fire at the other side of the house although the fire is still burning on this side of the building. So, it's logical that we continue to support Ukraine collectively. Which also makes it clear that Europe needs to do more. To not only invest in our own defence but also help Ukraine more. If we are talking about possible security guarantees – again, I would continue to say never trust Russia – for peace then Kyiv's allies and friends from different regions need to do more. Estonia is ready to allocate also military units, which will be relevant to our compact size. We will be inside those forces because what is happening in Ukraine is important for security in our region Russia and China seem to have formed an unbreakable compact. What is Europe's gameplan for Beijing? Well, it's not unbreakable. I sometimes compare it to interests of criminal activists. When their interests are matching, then they cooperate. When one of the group members feels that the leader is not suitable anymore, a struggle can start among them. I think we in Europe have become more realistic about looking on China and that will also shape our foreign policy in the future.
