Linda McMahon: We are ‘returning’ education to the states

Key Concepts

• Returning Education to the States: A core objective to decentralize educational control and funding.
• Science of Reading: A pedagogical approach focused on evidence-based methods for teaching reading.
• Eliminating the Department of Education: The ultimate goal of reducing federal bureaucracy in education.
• Intra-agency Agreements: Partnerships with other federal departments (e.g., Labor) to transfer functions and improve efficiency.
• Grant Program Technology: The perceived inadequacy of the Department of Education's technology for managing grants, contrasted with superior technology at the Department of Labor.
• Teacher Unions (American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association): Organizations that may oppose the proposed changes due to potential impacts on their influence and funding.
• COVID Funds for K-12 Education: A significant allocation of $189 billion during the pandemic, with questions raised about its effective spending and impact on student outcomes.
• Reading Proficiency Crisis: A statistic indicating a low percentage of students are reading proficiently.
• School Choice: The concept of allowing parents to choose the educational setting for their children, including private, charter, or public schools.
• National School Choice Program: A recently passed bill offering tax credits for donations to scholarship programs that support school choice.

Department of Education Reform and Decentralization

Education Secretary Linda McMahon outlined a significant initiative to "return education to the states" and improve educational standards by reintroducing the "Science of Reading" in schools. She described the Department of Education as operating with a "lean, mean machine" and being more efficient, with only half the workforce it had previously.

Goal of Eliminating the Department of Education

The overarching goal, as stated by Secretary McMahon, is to "get rid of the bureaucracy in education." This involves transferring programs currently managed by the Department of Education to other agencies where they are believed they will "flourish."

Intra-agency Agreements and Efficiency Gains

A key strategy for achieving this goal is through "intra-agency agreements." An example cited is an agreement with the Department of Labor. Grant programs previously handled by the Department of Education have been moved to the Department of Labor, leveraging its "superior" technology for grant management. Secretary McMahon described the Department of Education's grant technology as being "held together with bubble gum and rubber bands."

This process involves detailing personnel from the Department of Education, who remain under its budget and oversight, and integrating them with staff at the Department of Labor. This approach is described as operating "a bit like a merger," leading to efficiencies and the development of expertise on both sides. The intention is not to simply transfer programs without oversight but to manage them effectively in new environments.

Transfer of Grant Programs and Potential Department Closure

When asked if it's conceivable that enough grants could be transferred to allow for the permanent closure of the Department of Education, Secretary McMahon affirmed that this is indeed the goal. She clarified that while the department building might close, funding for programs like Title I and IDEA would continue to flow, albeit through different agencies, as they did prior to the establishment of the Department of Education.

Concerns Regarding COVID-19 Education Funds and Student Outcomes

Secretary McMahon expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the $189 billion in COVID funds allocated to K-12 education. She stated that if the money was "well-spent, it's a mystery" because there have been no observable improvements in student scores. She highlighted that schools were closed during this period, and parents gained insight into what was being taught, suggesting a "failure" in education.

National Education Crisis and Workforce Development

Secretary McMahon characterized the state of education in the country as a "crisis" and a "national emergency." She emphasized the importance of building a skilled workforce to support new manufacturing and investment initiatives. She cited a concerning statistic: only 30% of high school students, eighth graders, and fourth graders are reading proficiently.

Encouraging School Choice

In response to a question about federal government encouragement of school choice, Secretary McMahon highlighted a "big beautiful bill" that recently passed, establishing a "national school choice program." This program offers individuals a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on top of state tax credits for donations to scholarship programs. These scholarships enable children to attend schools of their choice, including private, charter, or public schools. This initiative is considered one of the most significant achievements in the bill.