US Education Secretary Linda McMahon has launched the Returning Education to the States Tour, a Nationwide Tour initiative aimed at gathering insights from educators, students, and families across all 50 states. The tour seeks to highlight effective state-level education practices and explore ways to enhance learning outcomes for students nationwide.
The program began earlier this week, with initial visits to Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Over the coming months, McMahon will travel extensively to observe classroom activities, meet with school leaders, and listen to community feedback on improving educational opportunities.
Purpose of the Tour
The Returning Education to the States Tour is designed to collect best practices from schools in diverse regions of the country. The focus will be on understanding how states are addressing challenges in student achievement, curriculum design, teacher support, and resource allocation.
“Part of my mission is learning directly from states about what’s working well,” US Education Secretary McMahon said during a visit to an East Baton Rouge school. “By listening to educators, parents, and students, we can identify approaches that help children succeed and explore how these strategies might be adapted more broadly.”
Emphasis on Local Decision-Making and Parental Engagement
During her visits, McMahon has highlighted the importance of involving parents in the decision-making process. She noted that parents often have unique insights into their children’s learning needs and can play a key role in selecting the most suitable educational path.
“Parents know what is best for their children,” McMahon said. “When they have options, they can choose schools where their children can thrive.”
The tour aims to study how various states encourage parental engagement in education, whether through school choice programs, community partnerships, or parent-teacher collaboration initiatives.
Observations from Initial State Visits
US Education Secretary McMahon’s first stops in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee included classroom observations, discussions with teachers, and roundtables with local education officials. In Louisiana, she visited an East Baton Rouge school, meeting with both educators and policymakers to learn about local academic programs and student support services.
In Arkansas and Tennessee, the focus included examining workforce readiness programs, STEM education initiatives, and strategies to improve literacy rates. Education officials in these states shared examples of partnerships between schools and local industries, aimed at better preparing students for post-graduation careers.
Nationwide Scope and Anticipated Outcomes
The Returning Education to the States Tour will continue over the next several months, with McMahon’s team compiling insights from each visit into a national report. This report will outline innovative strategies that have proven effective in improving student outcomes, which could serve as models for other states.
While each state faces its own unique challenges, McMahon emphasized the value of collaboration. “By learning from one another, we can ensure that every child—no matter where they live—has access to a quality education,” she said.
Next Stops on the Nationwide Tour
Following her visits to the first three states, US Education Secretary McMahon is expected to travel next to schools in the Midwest and Northeast. These visits will focus on early childhood education programs, special education services, and the integration of technology in classrooms.
The tour will continue through the academic year, concluding with a comprehensive review of the findings. The final report will be shared with state education leaders, school districts, and educators nationwide.