
President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order to expand school choice, signaling a major shift in federal education policy.
At a Glance
- Trump signs Executive Order to prioritize and expand school choice programs
- Order directs Education Department to prioritize school choice through grants and funding guidance
- Department of Education blog post advocates for homeschooling, contrasting with previous administration’s stance
- Critics argue school choice programs may harm public schools and subsidize wealthy families
- Trump views school choice as a civil rights issue
Trump Administration Prioritizes School Choice
In a move that signals a significant shift in federal education policy, President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order aimed at expanding school choice programs.
Is it finally happening?
The order, titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families,” directs the Education Department to prioritize school choice initiatives through discretionary grants and issue guidance on federal fund allocations.
This executive action coincides with National School Choice Week, recognized by the Education Department, and reflects Trump’s campaign promise to expand educational options for families. The order also instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on using block grants for faith-based and private institutions, further broadening the scope of educational choices available to parents.
What President Trump’s Executive Order on School Choice Means for New Hampshire
The conversation around Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) and school choice in New Hampshire is more important than ever. With President Donald Trump directing federal agencies to expand education…
— Steven Kesselring (@KesselringSteve) January 30, 2025
The Executive Order extends its reach to specific groups, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to school choice. The Defense Secretary is tasked with creating a plan for military families to use Pentagon funds for school choice, while the Interior Secretary is directed to develop a similar plan for Bureau of Indian Education schools to utilize federal funds for alternative educational options.
“Given the dismal results on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, I’m pleased to see the administration doing what it can to ensure families have access to more and better choices. While there are significant limits to what’s possible, given statutory constraints and Washington’s modest role in K-12 schooling, it’s notable that the administration is doing what it can to extend the parental choice rather than stymie it,” Frederick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute said.
This shift in policy has been met with both praise and criticism. Supporters view it as a necessary step towards improving educational outcomes and empowering parents, while critics argue that such programs could potentially harm public schools and disproportionately benefit wealthy families.
Department of Education Supports Homeschooling
In addition to the Executive Order, the Trump administration’s Department of Education has shown support for homeschooling, marking a departure from the previous administration’s focus on public schooling.
A recent blog post on the Department’s website, titled “Homeschooling: The Lifeline We Didn’t Know We Needed,” advocates for the benefits of homeschooling and its ability to meet individual learning needs.
“Today, vouchers subsidize wealthy families who already send their kids to private and religious schools. Privatizers fund those giveaways by defunding and destabilizing public schools,” Randi Weingarten, a critic of the policy, said.
The blog post, written by Stephanie D. Birch, emphasizes the flexibility of homeschooling and its potential to cater to children who may not thrive in traditional educational settings. This stance represents a significant shift from the Biden administration’s policies, which were seen as more focused on supporting public schools.
The Trump administration’s approach to education policy stands in stark contrast to that of the Biden administration. While Trump views school choice as a civil rights issue and seeks to expand educational options, critics of the Biden administration argued that its policies maintained too much government control over education.
America is turning a corner!