K-12 Dive

Linda McMahon won confirmation as U.S. education secretary on Monday, gaining Senate approval in a51-45 vote along party lines. McMahon’s approval had been expected given the Republican majority, albeit thin, in the Senate. President Donald Trump nominated McMahon to lead his long-promised downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education. McMahon, a former administrator of the Small Business Administration and former president and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, said during her Feb. 13 Senate confirmation hearing that she was open to reforming the department but wanted to study specific programs before making commitments for change. Of special education oversight, McMahon said, “I’m not sure that it’s not better served in HHS, but I don’t know.” She did say funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Title I programming for low-income schools, and other programs established in statute would need to continue even if the Education Department were shuttered.