August 14, 2025

US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is on an exciting 50-state tour called Returning Education to the States. After kicking off in Louisiana, she brought her journey to Arkansas, shining the spotlight on how the state is shaking up K-12 education by giving more power to local leaders. This big move is part of the Trump administration’s plan to hand control over education back to states, instead of Washington, D.C. Her day in Arkansas started with a friendly visit to Don R. Roberts Elementary School in Little Rock. There, McMahon walked through classrooms, soaked in the learning vibes, and joined a lively chat about literacy with teachers, principals, and local leaders. The group talked about Arkansas' clever ways to help young kids read better, train teachers well, and make sure reading is part of every subject. Next, McMahon checked out the Saline County Career & Technical Campus. This school is like a factory for future jobs, offering hands-on training in hot fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and IT. McMahon called it a shining example of how high schools can prepare students for real-world jobs without losing tough academic standards. Arkansas’ education plan shines bright with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ ideas. The plan includes: universal school choice where families pick the best public, private, or charter schools with state funds; clear reading goals that every child should read at grade-level by grade three; better pay to keep great teachers; and stronger career programs linked to local job needs. "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, sharing the US Department of Education’s praise. The tour’s start in Louisiana showed different challenges like low literacy and graduation rates. Arkansas, by contrast, is already rolling out successful programs and seeing results. The federal department hopes to share these best ideas across states so everyone can learn and grow. However, not everyone in Arkansas agreed. While officials welcomed McMahon, some parents and advocates protested outside Roberts Elementary, worried that school choice might take money away from public schools. The tour isn’t done yet. Next stop: Tennessee, where school vouchers and teacher pay debates are hot topics. Each state shows a unique story of how education can change when local leaders get the reins. As the US Department of Education says, the big dream is to "decentralize power out of Washington, let states innovate on education policy, and put students first." This colorful journey might just change how America educates its kids!

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Tags: Linda mcmahon, Returning education to the states, Arkansas education, School choice, Literacy, Career training,