US Education Secretary visits South Dakota schools

McMahon tours Colman-Egan High, Flandreau Indian School, and McCrossan Boys Ranch

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:00am

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph showing the blurred silhouettes of students walking down a school hallway, with soft, warm lighting and muted colors creating a dreamlike, atmospheric scene.The U.S. Education Secretary's visit to South Dakota schools aims to inform federal efforts to decentralize education policy decisions.Flandreau Today

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, along with South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden and State Department of Education Secretary Joe Graves, visited three schools in South Dakota on April 8th as part of McMahon's 'Returning Education to the States' tour.

Why it matters

The visit highlights the federal government's efforts to devolve more education policy decisions to individual states, a key priority for the current administration. South Dakota's schools provide an interesting case study, as the state has adopted a more decentralized approach to K-12 education in recent years.

The details

During the tour, McMahon, Rhoden, and Graves visited Colman-Egan High School, Flandreau Indian School, and McCrossan Boys Ranch. The purpose was to observe how these schools are implementing state-level education policies and to gather feedback that could inform future federal initiatives.

  • The school visits took place on April 8, 2026.

The players

Linda McMahon

The U.S. Secretary of Education, appointed by the current presidential administration to oversee federal education policy.

Larry Rhoden

The Governor of South Dakota, leading the state's efforts to decentralize education decision-making.

Joe Graves

The Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education, responsible for implementing the state's education policies.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to see how South Dakota's schools are adapting to the new realities of education policy in this country.”

— Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education

What’s next

Secretary McMahon is expected to issue a report in the coming weeks summarizing her findings from the South Dakota school visits and outlining potential federal policy changes to further empower state and local education authorities.

The takeaway

The tour of South Dakota schools underscores the ongoing shift in the federal government's approach to K-12 education, moving away from a one-size-fits-all national model towards greater state and local control over curriculum, funding, and other key decisions.