U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Tennessee on Wednesday as part of her nationwide “Returning Education to the States” tour, an initiative requested by President Donald Trump to shift decision-making in education from the federal government to state and local control.¶
The Tennessee tour-stop marked the ninth visit of McMahon’s 50-state tour, which highlights state-led education initiatives and gathers feedback from families, educators, and policymakers.¶
Trump’s Push to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education¶
In March, Trump signed an executive order directing McMahon to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, a proposal that would require Congressional approval to complete. The move is part of the administration’s broader plan to decentralize education policy, reduce the department’s federal footprint, and transfer programs such as student aid and civil rights enforcement to other agencies.¶
Restructuring efforts are already underway. The department has laid off about half of its workforce, consolidated divisions, and reassigned program oversight. The “Returning Education to the States” tour is intended to showcase local success stories and build support for the policy shift.¶
These moves have been widely criticized by Democrats and by the state and national unions that represent teachers. Opponents worry dismantling the department will remove protections for students with special learning needs and cut funding for schools. Tennessee currently receives hundreds of millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Education each year. Those dollars are especially important in rural counties.¶
Knoxville Meetings Spotlight Literacy Progress¶
During her Tennessee visit, McMahon met with educators and community leaders at Grand Oaks Elementary School, followed by a stop at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She toured the campus with UT System President Randy Boyd, Chancellor Donde Plowman, and Knoxville Mayor Glenn Jacobs, focusing on the Tennessee Reading Research Center and the state’s literacy initiatives.¶
“Tennessee is setting a powerful example in education by making bold investments in early literacy,” McMahon said. “Partnerships with institutions like the University of Tennessee are helping to deepen the impact — strengthening teacher preparation, advancing research-based initiatives, and ensuring families and educators have the tools they need to help every child succeed.”¶
Tennessee’s K-3 Literacy Turnaround¶
Tennessee’s current literacy push began in 2021 with the passage of the Tennessee Literacy Success Act (TLSA) during a special legislative session. The law requires districts and charter schools to use evidence-based reading instruction in kindergarten through third grade, submit foundational literacy skills plans, administer reading screeners three times annually, and provide targeted support for struggling readers.¶
It also overhauled teacher training, requiring educator preparation programs to align with reading science and meet new licensure and accountability standards.¶
The state followed up with Reading 360, a $100 million initiative funded through federal COVID-19 relief and grants. The program provides phonics-based materials, teacher training, and competitive grants for districts to accelerate K-3 reading proficiency.¶
By spring 2023, third-grade English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency reached 40 percent on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), a historic state high.¶
“Tennessee’s successful K-3 literacy strategy has helped our students lead the nation in reading proficiency gains,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “I look forward to continuing these strong results in partnership with the Trump administration.”¶
UT’s Tennessee Reading Research Center¶
Founded in 2022, the Tennessee Reading Research Center is the only multi-campus university reading research hub in the nation. Operated jointly by the UT System and the Tennessee Department of Education, the center evaluates the state’s literacy initiatives, including Reading 360.¶
Led by Dr. Deborah K. Reed, the center examines strategies for phonics instruction, instructional materials, summer learning, and literacy in underserved communities. Its findings are used to inform policy and improve classroom practices statewide.¶
