U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon toured a Hawaiian-culture-based charter school in Nanakuli, a neutral stop for Hawaii but one tied to bigger fights over federal education money and school standards nationwide.

• McMahon visited classrooms blending Hawaiian language and culture with academics, calling it an immersive approach that also builds responsibility and stamina.
• Hawaii is the 49th state she's toured, following earlier stops at Radford High, Mokapu Elementary, and Keiki Routes.
• She pointed to weak nationwide reading scores, with only about a third of fourth and eighth graders proficient, as the reason for pushing a waiver letting states combine federal grants into one block and decide locally how to spend them.
• Her department recently sent $48 million to support Native Hawaiian education programs.
• School leaders say the visit's attention matters because Nanakuli's charter school is trying to expand to include high school grades.

Outlook: The visit raises the school's profile as it pushes to grow into high school grades, while the proposed funding waiver could reshape how federal education money flows to states.