President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order aimed at expanding private school vouchers and other school choice initiatives. The order directs government agencies, including the Education Department, to repurpose federal dollars to prioritize school choice programs. This move is intended to provide states with new guidance on utilizing federal funds to support K-12 voucher programs.
While the executive order may free up some federal money for school choice, the majority of school funding in the United States comes from state and local sources. School choice policies are typically determined by state governments.
The order criticizes traditional public schools for failing students and pledges to offer opportunities for students to attend schools that best suit their needs. Other agencies, such as the departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, as well as the Bureau of Indian Education, will also be directed to assist states and families in leveraging existing federal funds for school choice programs.
The executive order coincides with National School Choice celebrations and follows the release of national exam results showing a decline in reading proficiency among American students, with minimal improvements in math following the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration aims to empower states, prioritize meaningful learning, and ensure universal access to high-quality instruction.
President Trump campaigned on expanding school choice, proposing significant funding preferences for states that adopt universal school choice policies. Arizona became the first state to implement universal school choice in 2022, with other Republican-led states following suit. Critics argue that such policies are designed to undermine public education.
During his first term, Trump attempted to expand school choice initiatives and appointed Betsy DeVos, a prominent advocate for school choice, as education secretary. Despite efforts to collaborate with governors on state policies, Congress did not pass legislation proposed by DeVos to provide tax breaks for donations to scholarships for private schools and alternative education options.
President Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, a billionaire professional wrestling mogul, as the next education chief. McMahon, who awaits a Senate hearing, has expressed support for expanding school choice policies.
