As Linda McMahon stepped into the ring for her confirmation hearing as secretary of Education on Thursday, panic spread over the idea that she might deliver the final smackdown to the agency.
Having worked as an education policy analyst and reporter, and experienced the American education system as a student and aide to teachers, I’ve seen firsthand how bureaucracy stifles innovation in learning — making the fear of dismantling the Department of Education entirely misplaced.
With the Trump administration and members of Congress weighing the possibility of dismantling the Department of Education and cutting its bureaucratic stronghold, we should embrace this opportunity for true innovation — not just reform — in American education.
FULL LIST OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ACTIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS TRUMP HAS MADE AS PRESIDENT
What are some of these innovative measures? Expanding school choice so that funding follows the student and not the system, empowering teachers with the freedom to teach without bureaucratic red tape or union constraints, and more flexibility in how students learn — whether that is by diving into hands-on projects or exploring their surroundings.