BATON ROUGE — U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Jefferson Terrace Academy in Baton Rouge Monday to launch the Trump administration’s “Returning Education to the States” initiative and to hear how Louisiana schools have approached K–12 improvement.
McMahon praised state-level gains and said her goal is to shift education decisions closer to students, parents and local school systems rather than centralized control from Washington. “The president believes that the best education is that closest to the student, not handled from a bureaucracy in Washington,” she said.
State School Superintendent Cade Brumley welcomed the visit and emphasized Louisiana’s recent progress. He said the state has led the nation in literacy growth for four years, placed in the top five for math, and is outpacing the national average in outcomes for students with disabilities.
The visit took place amid administration discussions about shrinking or restructuring the U.S. Department of Education. McMahon suggested that core functions of the department could be redistributed to other federal agencies — for example, administering federal student loans through the Treasury Department or the Small Business Administration — though she did not outline a detailed plan.
Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) criticized the idea of dismantling the department, warning on a recent podcast that reducing federal oversight could weaken protections that ensure equal access to public education. Brumley said the aim is to remove unnecessary federal red tape while retaining legal protections: equal access and anti-discrimination obligations, including rights for students with disabilities, would remain in force under federal law.
Only Congress has the authority to abolish the Department of Education. McMahon is scheduled to continue visits this week in Arkansas and Tennessee as part of the initiative.
Additional comments and context
– What “Returning Education to the States” would mean: broadly, greater state and local control over standards, funding flexibility, and reduced federal oversight. That can allow quicker, locally tailored responses but also risks greater variability in services and protections between states if federal safeguards are weakened.
– Legal and practical realities: Congress would need to pass legislation to abolish the Education Department or significantly change its statutory responsibilities. Transferring major programs (like federal student loan administration) would involve complex statutory, technical and budgetary changes.
– Local success with caution: Louisiana’s reported gains in literacy and math suggest local reforms can produce results. Preserving civil rights and services for vulnerable students while expanding local flexibility will be a key policy challenge.
Brief summary
Linda McMahon launched a federal initiative in Baton Rouge to promote state-led education decision-making, praising Louisiana’s gains. Superintendent Cade Brumley highlighted the state’s literacy and math improvements. The idea of reducing the Department of Education’s role drew concern from critics who fear weakened federal protections; lawmakers would need to act to make structural changes.
Hopeful angle
Louisiana’s recent improvements in literacy and math show that focused local strategies can work. If federal and state leaders collaborate—keeping strong protections for vulnerable students while granting responsible flexibility—there’s potential to accelerate student progress nationwide without sacrificing equity.