After Louisiana, Linda McMahon reaches Arkansas on 50-state education tour: Inside the state's vision for students
Returning Education to the States
tour to Arkansas, the second stop in a cross-country initiative aimed at spotlighting how states are reshaping K-12 learning when given more autonomy.
The 50-state tour, launched in Louisiana earlier this month, is central to the Trump administration's push to decentralize education policy, moving decision-making power from Washington, D.C., to state capitals. In Arkansas, McMahon focused on two priorities that define the state's education vision: driving up literacy rates and equipping students with skills for in-demand jobs.
A day in Arkansas
McMahon's visit began at Don R.
Roberts Elementary School in Little Rock, where she toured classrooms and joined a literacy roundtable with educators, administrators, and local leaders. The discussion centered on Arkansas' approach to early reading interventions, teacher training, and the integration of literacy goals into broader academic standards.
She then traveled to the Saline County Career & Technical Campus, which offers high school students hands-on training in fields such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and information technology.
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According to the US Department of Education, McMahon called the facility an example of how 'career readiness can be embedded into high school education without compromising academic rigour.'
Arkansas' education vision
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' education blueprint, which McMahon praised during her visit, includes:
Universal school choice giving families the ability to direct state funds to public, private, or charter schools that best fit their needs.
Literacy benchmarks setting the expectation that every student will read at grade level by the end of third grade.
Increased teacher pay, raising salaries to attract and retain quality educators.
Expanded career and technical education linking high school programs directly with local labor market demands.
'Arkansas is an excellent example of what it looks like to prioritise students through school choice and programs that prepare students for in-demand careers,' McMahon said, as quoted by the US Department of Education.
A contrast to Louisiana's challenges
The tour's first stop in Louisiana focused on a state grappling with persistent gaps in literacy, graduation rates, and workforce readiness. There, McMahon met with teachers and school leaders implementing state-driven reforms to improve reading outcomes.
In contrast, Arkansas was presented as a model already in the implementation phase, with measurable progress in both academic and technical pathways. The US Department of Education noted that the tour aims to 'share best practices from across the country' so states can adapt successful strategies to their own contexts.
The political context
The
Returning Education to the States
tour is part of a broader Republican-led education agenda that promotes parental choice, state innovation, and reduced federal oversight. Supporters argue that local control makes education more responsive to community needs, while critics warn it may widen disparities between districts.
In Arkansas, those tensions were visible. While state leaders welcomed McMahon's visit, a small group of parents and education advocates staged protests outside Roberts Elementary, voicing concerns that universal school choice diverts resources from traditional public schools.
What's next on the tour
With Arkansas now in the books, McMahon will head to Tennessee, where debates over school vouchers and teacher pay have dominated the education landscape. Each stop is intended to provide a different lens on state-led innovation — from early literacy strategies to career-aligned curricula.
As the US Department of Education put it, the goal is to 'decentralize power out of Washington, let states innovate on education policy, and put students first.'
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