Linda McMahon, co-founder with her husband of what became World Wrestling Entertainment, has been named as Donald Trump's appointee for the post of Secretary of the Department of Education. Trump, who campaigned promising to eliminate the DOE, had appointed McMahon as his head of the Small Business Administration during his first term in office. McMahon, who has come out in favor of school choice and charter schools in the past, could end up overseeing the elimination of her own job if Republicans are able to push through legislation that would shutter the DOE.

McMahon's confirmation – and the future of the Department of Education – is unlikely to have any immediate effect on schools across the country. In terms of things like providing accommodations and learning plans for students with special needs and disciplining for Title IX misconduct, things are likely to remain more or less the same for some time. If you have questions about your school's obligation to help your special needs child learn, or if you're a student facing a disciplinary investigation or proceeding at your school, the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is here to help. Call us at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a consultation to speak with an experienced student defense attorney about your situation.

McMahon's Positions on Education

Linda McMahon has been a vocal proponent of “school choice” – giving parents the ability to, in her words, “choose the schools they believe can best educate their kids, whether they are neighborhood schools, private schools, religious schools, or charter schools.” She has voiced her support for charter schools, arguing that they push public schools to, in her words, “do better.”

As is expected of all Trump appointees, it's likely that McMahon will loyally work to implement the new administration's priorities in her new post, assuming she is confirmed. These include weakening Title IX's protections for transgender students; reducing or eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs; terminating the DOE's relationship with college accrediting agencies that do not conform with the administration's political requirements; and reducing direct funding for K-12 schools in favor of providing the funds for states to administer as they see fit.

As ambitious as many of these goals might seem, none of them are likely to be implemented overnight. However, if you are a parent of a child who currently benefits from any education program implemented by the federal government, you need to pay close attention to any changes that may be coming your way. And if you're a student attending a college or university that accepts federal funding, you can anticipate that your school will still be enforcing its own disciplinary requirements even if those imposed by Title IX and other federal laws change.

The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is Here to Help

Whether Linda McMahon ends up presiding over the shutdown of the Department of Education she's been tapped to lead, or simply implements the new administration's orders when it comes to changing the relationship between the DOE and schools across the country; it's likely that there will be changes in how and to what extent the federal government is involved with local schools. If you have questions about how any of these changes may affect you as a student or may affect your child if you're a parent of a student, contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team for help.

If, for example, you learn that a disability accommodation that you and your child have relied on is being terminated or changed, or if you're a college student facing misconduct allegations, or if you simply have questions about what your rights are as a student or a parent, call us at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation. At the Lento Law Firm, our experienced student defense attorneys are committed to staying on top of the changing laws, rules, and regulations that apply to all levels of education in the US, and we're here to listen and to help.