U.S. Department of Education
08/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/27/2026 14:37
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Visits North Dakota on Returning Education to the States Tour
August 27, 2026
Bismarck, ND - Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited North Dakota on her Returning Education to the States Tour. She was joined by Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Kirsten Baesler, who served as North Dakota's Superintendent of Public Instruction for over a decade.
Secretary McMahon and Assistant Secretary Baesler began the day by touring Bismarck State College, North Dakota's signature polytechnic institution known for blending traditional academics with immersive, career-focused technical training. Next, they traveled to Sweet Briar School, a rural K-8 public school serving a close-knit student body of 25 to 30 students, highlighting the unique strengths and needs of rural education.
The tour continued in Dickinson at the Southwest Area CTE Academy, an innovative hub partnering with seven local high schools and Dickinson State University to deliver over 70 hands-on career courses, before concluding at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
"North Dakota is proving that when we rethink education to meet the unique needs of local communities, students thrive and industries grow," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "From the cutting-edge technical classrooms in Dickinson and Bismarck to the resilient spirit of rural schools like Sweet Briar, this state serves as a powerful model for giving control back to local families and innovators. As we return education to the states, I look forward to taking some of the lessons learned from these remarkable communities and championing them across the country."
Background:
On her Returning Education to the States Tour, Secretary McMahon is traveling to all 50 states to hear directly from teachers, parents, and community leaders about what is working in their communities for their students and compile a toolkit of best practices to distribute to states.
Learn more about Secretary McMahon's Returning Education to the States Tour here.
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