Washington, August 25: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the importance of adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, but insisted that it should never replace teachers. Speaking to reporters at the White House, McMahon stated, “We haven’t really discussed regulation, but we are embracing AI. It’s here to stay. I visited Alpha School in Austin, Texas, and saw it in action. However, we need to adopt this technology with safety measures in place, as it’s crucial to understand that AI cannot take the place of teachers in the classroom.”
McMahon highlighted the necessity for direct interaction between teachers and students, even as technology rapidly evolves in educational settings. “We need human contact with children in the classroom. AI can serve as a personal tutor for those who are falling behind or provide advanced classes for students excelling. If used correctly, it can be a fantastic opportunity to assist children,” she added.
Additionally, McMahon discussed the Trump administration‘s efforts to shift more control over schools to states by dismantling the Education Department. She noted that President Donald Trump had indicated a need for a “hard reset” of the federal education system after decades of spending and declining test scores.
“He said, look, we are failing our children in education. The Education Department was established in 1980, and we’ve spent over three trillion dollars. Our test scores are continuously dropping,” McMahon remarked.
She explained that the Education Department primarily serves as a conduit for funds approved by Congress, with many programs existing under other federal agencies before the department’s formation. The administration is now pursuing inter-agency agreements to transfer certain responsibilities to those agencies. McMahon stated that these transfers aim to demonstrate to Congress that programs can be run more effectively elsewhere.
“We know that ultimately Congress will have to vote to close the Education Department. So I said, let me prove it. Let me show you that this will work. That’s the process we are currently undertaking,” she said.
On the topic of school choice, McMahon mentioned a federal tax credit included in Trump’s significant tax and spending legislation, which she described as the closest opportunity to nationalize school choice. Under this program, governors can participate and create scholarship organizations. Individuals can contribute to these organizations and receive tax credits of up to $1,700.
McMahon asserted that this funding could help families move their children from failing schools or institutions that do not meet their needs. It could also provide funding for after-school programs or private tutoring, as well as support for children with disabilities.
She also noted that an agreement has been made with the Treasury Department to gradually transfer oversight of the $1.7 trillion student debt system. The U.S. Education Department was established as a cabinet-level agency under a law signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 and began operations in 1980.
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