The U.S. Department of Education today published a column by Secretary of Education Linda E. McMahon, outlining the purpose of her nationwide Returning Education to the States Tour . The initiative reflects her mandate under the Trump administration to reduce the federal role in education and increase the authority of individual states.
The question, however, remains: can the Returning Education to the States Tour truly live up to its promise?
Why the tour was launched
In the same column, McMahon referenced the origins of the Department of Education, created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter. While Carter envisioned a federal body to strengthen the nation’s educational framework, McMahon argued that the results have not matched those intentions. According to her, “trillions of taxpayer dollars have gone to waste” while educational outcomes have declined.
She explained that the current policy direction is aimed at reversing this model by shifting decision-making power back to the states. The tour, she wrote, allows her to meet state leaders, review best practices, and examine how those approaches might be scaled nationwide.
Spotlight on state-led innovation
McMahon described states as “laboratories of educational democracy,” citing Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. During her visits, she highlighted three areas where state-level policies are showing results:
Examples from the tour
The Secretary shared specific instances from her recent stops. At Purdue University in Indiana, she toured the PUR-1 nuclear reactor facility, the first digitally controlled reactor in the United States. According to her, this facility provides hands-on training for future nuclear scientists and engineers while also offering remote teaching capabilities.
In Mississippi, McMahon visited the Early Childhood Learning Center in Oxford, where the “Mississippi Miracle” — a statewide focus on the Science of Reading has been credited with improving reading outcomes. She described the program as an example of how state-driven reforms can shape student success.
Looking ahead
McMahon emphasized that the federal government is not “giving up on education” but is instead recognizing the importance of local governance. The tour, she added, is designed to showcase how states are tailoring solutions to meet their unique needs.
The Department of Education has invited schools and educators to participate in the ongoing tour by showcasing local models.
McMahon’s tour paints an ambitious picture of empowered states, local innovation, and student-centered success. Yet ambition is not a guarantee. Only the coming months will reveal whether these state successes can be replicated equitably, or whether the “golden age of American learning” remains aspirational rhetoric.
The question, however, remains: can the Returning Education to the States Tour truly live up to its promise?
Why the tour was launched
In the same column, McMahon referenced the origins of the Department of Education, created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter. While Carter envisioned a federal body to strengthen the nation’s educational framework, McMahon argued that the results have not matched those intentions. According to her, “trillions of taxpayer dollars have gone to waste” while educational outcomes have declined.
She explained that the current policy direction is aimed at reversing this model by shifting decision-making power back to the states. The tour, she wrote, allows her to meet state leaders, review best practices, and examine how those approaches might be scaled nationwide.
Spotlight on state-led innovation
McMahon described states as “laboratories of educational democracy,” citing Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. During her visits, she highlighted three areas where state-level policies are showing results:
- Evidence-based literacy instruction: Programs grounded in the Science of Reading, which focus on phonics, comprehension, and early detection of learning disorders.
- School choice initiatives: Expanding educational opportunities through policies such as charter schools and vouchers.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE): Investments in next-generation skills, including artificial intelligence and nuclear technology.
Examples from the tour
The Secretary shared specific instances from her recent stops. At Purdue University in Indiana, she toured the PUR-1 nuclear reactor facility, the first digitally controlled reactor in the United States. According to her, this facility provides hands-on training for future nuclear scientists and engineers while also offering remote teaching capabilities.
In Mississippi, McMahon visited the Early Childhood Learning Center in Oxford, where the “Mississippi Miracle” — a statewide focus on the Science of Reading has been credited with improving reading outcomes. She described the program as an example of how state-driven reforms can shape student success.
Looking ahead
McMahon emphasized that the federal government is not “giving up on education” but is instead recognizing the importance of local governance. The tour, she added, is designed to showcase how states are tailoring solutions to meet their unique needs.
The Department of Education has invited schools and educators to participate in the ongoing tour by showcasing local models.
McMahon’s tour paints an ambitious picture of empowered states, local innovation, and student-centered success. Yet ambition is not a guarantee. Only the coming months will reveal whether these state successes can be replicated equitably, or whether the “golden age of American learning” remains aspirational rhetoric.
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