McMahon’s Call for Parental Involvement in Education

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has a clear message for California: Washington is stepping back from classroom matters, and parents need to engage more actively. She warned that schools that withhold information from families will face consequences.

In an exclusive interview with The California Post during her “Returning Education to the States” tour in California, McMahon discussed the state’s disappointing test scores, the education record of Governor Gavin Newsom, and her ambition to overhaul the department she leads.

McMahon recognizes that low test scores are not just a state issue but a nationwide concern. She noted that President Trump had charged her with tackling this problem when he appointed her.

“I believe it stems from the current approach to teaching,” she stated. “Education cannot be mandated from Washington, D.C.; it’s not one-size-fits-all. The best solutions come from the states, with parents collaborating with teachers, governors, and school administrators.”

She emphasized the need for parents to take a more involved role in their children’s education, pointing to the increased parental engagement during the COVID pandemic as a “silver lining.”

“Step up, visit your child’s school, and find out what they’re learning and how you want that learning to happen,” McMahon advised.

When reflecting on Governor Newsom’s education policies, McMahon was candid, saying, “There is a lot of room for improvement.”

Current statistics indicate that around 60% of California students are not proficient in math, and about half do not meet the reading proficiency standards set by the state.

McMahon also criticized California’s approach to handling student gender identity information, warning that the state could face significant federal consequences for its policies, which restrict what schools can share with parents.

In January, the Education Department identified ongoing violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act by California’s education agency, which governs parental access to their children’s educational records.

“For a state to conceal that information from parents and not provide access is clearly against FERPA, and we will investigate and take action,” she stated.

The department has accused California of pressuring schools to refrain from disclosing students’ gender identities to their parents, referencing AB 1955, a law that prohibits districts from requiring such disclosure without the student’s consent. California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit regarding these findings, arguing that the law does not enforce nondisclosure.

“I challenge governors to prioritize serving kids over adults,” McMahon asserted.

Part of McMahon’s mission to return educational control to the states includes dismantling the federal department she oversees—a goal that President Trump pursued through a March 2025 executive order. However, achieving this will require congressional approval.

“We are actively working on shifting our responsibilities and reducing the scope of the Department of Education. It’s a significant undertaking,” she noted regarding her eventual departure from the role.

“We’re ensuring that all policies, grant allocations, and funds currently flowing through the Department of Education will be redirected to other agencies to serve children more effectively,” she added.

The department has formed 14 agreements with six different agencies, including Health and Human Services, Justice, State, Labor, Interior, and Treasury. These shifts will transfer some K-12 and college grant functions to Labor, the federal student loan portfolio to Treasury, and various special education and civil rights responsibilities to HHS and Justice.

McMahon’s pitch to lawmakers has been clear: “Let this serve as my proof of concept. Allow me to demonstrate that it can work. I won’t seek your vote until I can show you the results.”

The department has also expressed concerns about the performance of the University of California system, highlighting rising failure rates in introductory college math courses.

“It’s disheartening that so many college students struggle with fundamental high school math,” commented department spokesperson Julie Hartman.

She added, “Numerous institutions have recognized the importance of standardized testing and reinstated the SAT/ACT. The University of California should consider doing the same.”