Linda McMahon's Vision: ESSA Waivers and State Education Control

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Hello, I'm Mortimer, and welcome to this episode of the Secretary of Education podcast.

Today, we're diving into the latest headlines on Linda McMahon, the current U.S. Secretary of

Education, who took office last year under the Trump administration. Education week reports

that McMahon is pushing hard to return control of K through 12th grade education to the states.

She's granting waivers from the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, to give states flexibility

from federal rules on testing, funding, and accountability. For example, idolo wants high

schoolers to pick assessments that match their future plans, like career-focused tests instead of

one size fits all exams. Debbie Critchfield, Idaho's superintendent, told Education Week the timing

feels right now, with McMahon's leadership. Indiana is asking to redirect Title I funds for

low-performing schools straight to disadvantaged students, skipping the school fix mandate.

Alabama seeks approval for all students to take both the ACT for college readiness and ACT

work keys for careers. Education week notes states like Iowa already got partial waivers,

saving millions for local districts, while keeping legal guardwails.

Assistant Secretary Kirsten Basler emphasized to Education Week that waivers must

boost student achievement, not just handout leeway. She holds monthly calls with state chiefs

to say yes where possible, balancing state innovation with accountability, but critics worry.

Congressional Democrats, per Education Week, fear waivers could weaken protections for marginalized

kids. Ed Trust's Nicholas Munion Penny, questions if the slim down department, with staff cut

nearly in half, and programs shifting to labor can monitor these changes effectively.

A big legal headline. On March 11th, a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts and others in federal court

targets McMahon and the Education Department over data and diversity practices in admissions,

claiming misuse of authority, according to the New York Attorney General's office documents.

Social media buzz is heating up too. While not directly about McMahon,

districts face backlash over inclusive posts, like one celebrating transgender congresswoman Sarah

McBride, that sparked heed public comments at a recent school board meeting, as covered in

the Batavia 5th word blog. It highlights broader tensions in schools that federal policy

under McMahon aims to navigate by empowering states. On high red, under Secretary Nicholas Kent,

visited Ivy Tech Community College this week, praising workforce programs in healthcare and

welding as key to America's talent strategy, per Ivy Tech News. These moves have states testing

boundaries, sparking debate on whether it's true flexibility or lowered standards. McMahon's

department insists it about elevating good practices for all kids. Thanks for listening to the

Secretary of Education podcast, and please subscribe. It has been a quiet please production.

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But you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st. Help put our elections back on a level playing

field and let voters decide not politicians. Vote yes by April 21st. Paid for by Virginians for

fair elections. Hey, I'm Josh Speagle, host of the podcast Lunatic in the newsroom. If you

enjoy journalism that drifts into mild panic, wild overthinking and a guaranteed nervous breakdown,

Lunatic in the newsroom is for you. It's news like you've never heard before. The only newsroom

with a panic button, you'll laugh, you'll cry, and gasp and horror as the show spirals completely

out of control. It's not just news, it's emotionally unstable. Lunatic in the newsroom, listen today.