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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Arkansas leg of Linda McMahon's ‘Returning Education to the States' tour draws parent protests over education policies
US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon's nationwide 'Returning Education to the States' tour met with visible pushback during its Arkansas stop on Tuesday, as parents staged protests over the state's recent education reforms. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now McMahon, joined by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas junior US Senator Tom Cotton, and state Education Secretary Jacob Oliva, toured Don R. Roberts Elementary School in Little Rock and the Saline County Career and Technical Campus in Benton. The visits are part of a 50-state initiative aimed at highlighting state-led education models and collecting insights from local communities. Emphasis on state-led education policies The Department of Education has described the tour as a national 'listening exercise,' with McMahon seeking to understand locally developed solutions, promote educational choice, and reduce federal involvement in schools. In line with President 's stated goal of transferring education control to states, the campaign emphasises decentralisation, school choice, and tailored learning pathways. McMahon's remarks during the Arkansas visit included praise for technical training programmes that allow students to earn dual credits and enter the workforce directly. Parents voice opposition to reforms However, outside Roberts Elementary, a small group of parents voiced strong objections to both the tour and the state's broader policy agenda under the LEARNS (Literacy, Empowerment, Accountability, Readiness, Networking and School Safety) Act of 2023. The legislation introduced sweeping changes to Arkansas' K-12 education system, including the creation of the Educational Freedom Account programme, which provides state funding for approved education expenses such as private school tuition, and a raise in the minimum teacher salary to $50,000. According to the Arkansas Advocate , Courtney Jackson, a parent of two, said families at the school were 'incredibly upset' when notified of McMahon's visit. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'The parents of this school do not want her here,' Jackson said, adding that she did not want her children to feel she had stood by 'while public education was under attack.' Criticism over choice of school visit Another parent, Alison Metzler, told the Arkansas Advocate she kept her children home from school to avoid their being 'used as political pawns' during the visit. Metzler accused both Sanders and McMahon of undermining public education and criticised the choice of Roberts Elementary, describing it as 'the whitest affluent school in the Little Rock School District' and not representative of the challenges faced across the district. While state officials underscored the expansion of the Educational Freedom Account programme to around 50,000 students this year, protestors questioned the impact of diverting funds towards private schooling and away from public institutions. The disagreement reflected broader national debates over vouchers, funding priorities, and the role of federal oversight in education. Arkansas was among the first states on McMahon's tour, alongside Louisiana, with Tennessee as her next stop. As McMahon's tour continues, Arkansas's response highlights the competing visions for the future of US education: One that emphasises local autonomy and parental choice, and another that warns of weakening the public school system through redirected funding. The debate unfolding in Little Rock underscores the national conversation her 50-state initiative is likely to encounter in the months ahead. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
After Louisiana, Linda McMahon reaches Arkansas on 50-state education tour: Inside the state's vision for students
US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has brought her 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Website Made Simple [Find Out] SearchPad Learn More Undo 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.' Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
