U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is set to embark on a whirlwind tour across three Southern states next week, marking the official kickoff of her ambitious “Returning Education to the States” initiative. According to a series of news releases from the U.S. Department of Education and regional outlets, McMahon’s journey will take her to Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee, with each stop designed to spotlight local innovation in education and amplify the voices of those directly affected by policy decisions.
McMahon’s tour, which aims to reach all 50 states over the coming months, is rooted in the Trump administration’s vision of devolving more educational authority from the federal government to state and local leaders. The secretary’s first stops—scheduled for the week of August 11, 2025—will see her engaging with students, teachers, and school administrators, listening to their experiences, and learning from their successes and challenges. While the specific agenda for her Arkansas and Tennessee visits remains under wraps, details about her Louisiana appearance have begun to emerge.
According to Louisiana First, McMahon will arrive in Baton Rouge on Monday, August 11, where she’ll tour classrooms and join a literacy roundtable at Jefferson Terrace Academy. The Louisiana Department of Education has reported notable gains in the state’s K-12 performance, citing improvements in the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) scores and enhanced reading skills among younger students. Governor Jeff Landry has publicly celebrated these achievements, especially after The Nation’s Report Card reflected a rise in Louisiana’s educational rankings. McMahon’s visit is widely seen as a recognition of these advances and an opportunity to gather firsthand insights into the strategies driving them.
In a statement released by the Department of Education, McMahon outlined the purpose of her initiative: “President Trump entrusted me with a vital mission to return education to the states, and part of that is learning best practices from each state. As students head back to school, I will travel across our great nation to visit classrooms, listen to voices on the ground, and spotlight the incredible work happening at the local level.”
She continued, “I am eager to hear directly from students, educators, and local leaders about the bold ideas that can propel success, while also exploring how we can ensure every family has the freedom to choose the educational path that best fits their child’s needs.” (Arkansas Online, Louisiana First, KNWA/KFTA)
The “Returning Education to the States” tour is not just about celebrating what’s working; it’s also about identifying challenges and opportunities for reform. McMahon has emphasized her commitment to learning from local successes and failures, with a particular focus on broadening school choice and supporting policies that allow families to select the educational options that best suit their children. As she put it, “Part of that is learning best practices from each state.” (Arkansas Online)
While the precise schedule for McMahon’s Arkansas visit has yet to be announced, anticipation is building among educators and policymakers alike. The Department of Education has confirmed that the Arkansas stop will take place during the week of August 11, coinciding with the back-to-school season for many districts. The secretary’s team has indicated that she will meet with local school leaders, visit classrooms, and listen to the concerns and aspirations of both teachers and students. According to KNWA/KFTA, the tour’s official launch in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee is intended to set the tone for the nationwide effort, with each state offering unique lessons and perspectives.
In Louisiana, McMahon’s itinerary is more defined. She will participate in a literacy roundtable at Jefferson Terrace Academy, a school that has seen tangible improvements in student reading outcomes. The Louisiana Department of Education attributes some of this progress to targeted interventions and a renewed focus on foundational literacy skills. “LDOE has reported score improvements in the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program, commonly referred to as LEAP, and improved reading skills for young students,” reported Louisiana First. Governor Landry, for his part, has been quick to highlight these gains as evidence of effective state leadership and local innovation.
McMahon’s approach is not without its critics. Some education advocates have expressed concern that devolving too much authority to the states could exacerbate disparities between wealthy and under-resourced districts. Others argue that increased school choice, while empowering for some families, may divert funds from traditional public schools and undermine their ability to serve all students effectively. Still, supporters of the initiative contend that local leaders are best positioned to understand the unique needs of their communities and that federal overreach has too often stifled creativity and responsiveness.
“As students head back to school, I will travel across our great nation to visit classrooms, listen to voices on the ground, and spotlight the incredible work happening at the local level,” McMahon reiterated in multiple statements released this week. Her emphasis on listening and learning suggests a willingness to adapt federal policy in light of local realities, though it remains to be seen how these insights will translate into concrete changes at the national level.
The tour’s focus on celebrating “bold ideas that can propel success” and ensuring “every family has the freedom to choose the educational path that best fits their child’s needs” has resonated with many parents and educators seeking more flexibility and innovation in the classroom. At the same time, the initiative’s critics caution that the devil is in the details—how policies are implemented and funded will ultimately determine their impact on equity and student achievement.
For now, the spotlight is on the South, where McMahon’s visits to Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee are expected to generate both excitement and debate. Local leaders are preparing to showcase their achievements while also voicing their concerns and hopes for the future of education in their states. As the tour unfolds, all eyes will be on the secretary to see how she navigates the complex landscape of American education—and whether her efforts to “return education to the states” will deliver on their promise.
With the school year just getting underway, McMahon’s tour offers a timely reminder of the ongoing debates over who should control America’s classrooms and how best to serve the nation’s students. Whether the initiative will mark a turning point in education policy or simply add a new chapter to a long-running conversation remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: as McMahon crisscrosses the country, the nation will be watching—and listening—closely.
