Linda McMahon’s 50-State Education Tour

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has launched an ambitious 50-state tour, billed as a push to “Return Education to the States,” aimed at showcasing locally driven school successes and reducing the federal footprint in K–12 education. The initiative, announced earlier this year and formally launched in Louisiana this week, aligns closely with the Trump administration’s agenda to scale back federal oversight and place more decision-making power in the hands of states and local communities.

Launch in Louisiana

Louisiana was chosen as the tour’s first stop, where McMahon appeared alongside State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. The state’s recent gains in literacy and mathematics — including a jump from 49th to 32nd overall on the Nation’s Report Card since 2019 — made it a symbolic starting point for the campaign. Fourth graders in Louisiana now rank 16th in reading, with the state leading the nation in reading recovery and ranking near the top in math growth.

In a CBS News interview, McMahon highlighted Louisiana’s trajectory as evidence that local leadership and targeted interventions can outperform top-down mandates. Brumley echoed that sentiment, crediting state-specific reforms and community engagement for the turnaround.

Policy Goals

At the core of McMahon’s tour are three stated priorities for discretionary federal education grants:

1. Evidence-based literacy programs

2. Expanding school choice

3. Strengthening state and local leadership

She has also signaled support for transferring certain federal education functions — such as student loan administration — to agencies like the Treasury or Labor, while maintaining core programs such as Pell Grants and special education funding.

The tour will feature roundtables, school visits, and community discussions designed to elevate best practices and inspire policy shifts in other states.

Political Context

The tour follows President Trump’s March 2025 executive order directing the dismantling of much of the U.S. Department of Education. The order calls for a significant reduction in the agency’s size and authority, returning most K–12 oversight to state governments. While some cuts have already been implemented, several components of the order face legal challenges.

McMahon has framed the tour as both a listening session and a demonstration of what she calls “bureaucracy-free innovation.” “We want to highlight what’s working and encourage other states to adopt what works for them,” she told CBS.

Support and Skepticism

Supporters argue the shift will empower parents, enable faster innovation, and reduce federal interference in classroom decision-making. Proponents of school choice see the initiative as an opportunity to expand charter schools, voucher programs, and alternative education pathways.

Critics, however, caution that reducing federal oversight could lead to wider disparities in educational quality, particularly between wealthy and underfunded districts. Civil rights advocates warn that without strong national standards, vulnerable student populations may lose critical protections.

An editorial in The Times of India questioned whether the tour is truly about local empowerment or if it masks a reshaping of federal influence under a different name.

Looking Ahead

McMahon’s team says the 50-state tour will run through mid-2026, with stops in states ranging from rural Alaska to urban New York. Each visit will include meetings with educators, parents, and policymakers to “share solutions, not mandates.”

Whether the tour becomes a rallying cry for a new era of local control or a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over education governance, it is certain to keep McMahon — and the future of federal education policy — in the national spotlight.

CBS Mornings –  Education Secretary Linda McMahon begins tour pushing local school control

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