Education Secretary Linda McMahon delivered a stark critique of American schools during a Fox News interview on Monday, bluntly stating that the education system has failed children. McMahon, who joined President Donald Trump's Cabinet in March of the previous year, opened the segment with a dire assessment.
McMahon's Claims on Student Proficiency
"We're doing terribly, I mean, our education system's failed our kids," McMahon began, immediately setting a somber tone for the discussion. She proceeded to reference test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as "The Nation's Report Card." According to McMahon, these assessments revealed that "only about 30% of high school and eighth graders can read proficiently or do math proficiently."
"Think about that. Public schools across the country, only about 30%. Some places, 35%," she emphasized to host Harris Faulkner. "But, it's just terrible." McMahon has consistently promoted similar interpretations of the NAEP results, which were most recently administered in 2024, marking the first assessment since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education nationwide.
Context and Expert Scrutiny of NAEP Data
While McMahon accurately noted that 30% of eighth graders met or exceeded NAEP's reading "proficiency" level in the 2024 tests, the data also shows that 28% achieved this level in mathematics. For twelfth graders, the figures varied further: 35% were at or above the reading proficiency threshold, while only 22% reached the mathematics proficiency level.
However, experts and even McMahon's own Department of Education have raised concerns about how these scores are presented. The department's website explicitly warns that NAEP proficiency levels "do not represent grade-level proficiency as determined by other assessment standards (e.g., state or district assessments)." Educational researchers have similarly questioned the use of the term "proficiency" in this context, arguing it may not align with broader academic benchmarks.
Staffing Cuts and Reporting Challenges
Amid McMahon's media campaign highlighting NAEP findings, internal challenges within the Department of Education have emerged. Sources reported to NPR in September that due to budget reductions under the Trump administration, only two senior staffers remained assigned to the federal body responsible for issuing these tests. This shortage forced the National Center for Education Statistics, the agency tasked with collecting and analyzing NAEP data, to seek "additional support" from other agencies to compile and release the 2024 report.
Promoting the "History Rocks!" Tour
McMahon's Fox News appearance also served to promote her "History Rocks!" tour, which the Department of Education describes as a nonpartisan initiative to celebrate the "principles that shaped the founding and history of our nation" in anticipation of the country's 250th anniversary. Despite this characterization, The Washington Post noted on Monday that the tour's sponsor, the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, is led by the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute and includes right-wing groups such as Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty, and the Heritage Foundation.
The tour has faced significant opposition, with protests and cancellations occurring in several states. McMahon dismissed this backlash as "crazy" during her interview, underscoring the contentious nature of her educational outreach efforts.
