The "Hard Reset": Linda McMahon’s First Year of Educational Reform

Today, January 20, 2026, marks the one-year anniversary of the current U.S. administration, a milestone that Secretary of Education Linda McMahon celebrated by highlighting a "hard reset" of the American education system. Over the past twelve months, McMahon has spearheaded a shift toward returning educational authority to the states, moving away from federal oversight in favor of local control. This anniversary serves as a victory lap for a policy agenda that prioritizes school choice, parental rights, and a "back-to-basics" approach to curriculum.

A major pillar of this first-year success is the strategic reallocation of federal funds to address critical gaps in student support. Specifically, the Department of Education awarded over $208 million directly to states and school districts to increase the number of credentialed school psychologists. This move followed the cancellation of several previous grant programs, with the new funding specifically prioritized for rural and high-need districts. By focusing on hiring credentialed professionals rather than broad "wellness" initiatives, the administration aims to build a more sustainable and accountable mental health infrastructure within schools.

In addition to mental health, the administration has placed a massive emphasis on evidence-based literacy. McMahon announced that over $167 million has been distributed to improve reading scores nationwide, largely driven by a commitment to the "Science of Reading." This pedagogical shift focuses on phonics and phonemic awareness, modeled after the "Mississippi Miracle" which saw dramatic rises in literacy rates. The Secretary's "Returning Education to the States" tour over the last year has focused on scaling these successful state-level practices to a national level without imposing a "one-size-fits-all" federal mandate.

The administration’s push for universal school choice has also seen significant legislative momentum in 2025. By encouraging states to use their federal Title I allocations for choice initiatives, the Department has paved the way for more families to access private, charter, and micro-schools. McMahon has consistently argued that the "money should follow the student," not the bureaucracy. This has sparked a national debate on the future of public education, as the administration seeks to empower parents to decide which environment best suits their children’s specific needs.

Finally, the higher education sector has seen a major push for transparency and ROI (Return on Investment). Today’s anniversary highlights the launch of the new FAFSA earnings indicator, a tool that allows students to see the expected salary outcomes of specific degrees before they commit to loans. By capping graduate loans for the first time in twenty years and streamlining the accreditation process to favor "innovation-friendly" agencies, McMahon’s first year has focused on making college more affordable and career-aligned. This "wholesale reform" aims to ensure that postsecondary education is treated as a prudent investment in the American workforce rather than a pathway to insurmountable debt.