President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order on Wednesday aimed at expanding school choice for American families, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to empowering parents in directing their children’s education.
The order comes in response to ongoing concerns about the state of K-12 public education in the United States. According to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 70% of eighth graders are below proficient in reading, while 72 percent are below proficient in math. Additionally, geographically based school assignments contribute to rising housing costs in districts with higher-performing schools, placing financial strain on millions of American families.
“When our public education system fails such a large segment of society, it hinders our national competitiveness and devastates families and communities,” said President Trump. “Parents want and deserve the best education for their children, and my administration is committed to making that a reality.”
Gov. Mike Dunleavy was effusive: “President @realDonaldTrump is serious about improving educational outcomes for all American children. Fantastic!”
The executive order establishes a framework to support state-based K-12 educational choice programs and increase competition within the education sector. Among its key provisions are:
Guidance for States: Within 60 days, the Secretary of Education will issue guidance on how states can use federal formula funds to support educational choice initiatives, ensuring that public funding follows students to their preferred schools.
Discretionary Grant Programs: The Department of Education will prioritize education freedom in its discretionary grant programs, while the Departments of Labor and Education will evaluate and recommend ways to leverage grants to expand education options for families and teachers.
Support for Low-Income Families: The Department of Health and Human Services will explore ways to use block grants, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDGB), to help working families afford private, charter, or faith-based schooling options.
Aid for Military Families: The Department of Defense will review mechanisms to allow military-connected families to use federal education funds for school choice, ensuring greater flexibility and quality options for children of service members.
Options for Native American Students: The Secretary of the Interior will examine how Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) school funding can be redirected to provide greater educational choice for Native American families, including access to private and charter schools.
More than a dozen states have already implemented universal K-12 scholarship programs, allowing families to choose the best educational setting for their children. Research suggests that well-designed school choice programs improve student achievement and encourage nearby public schools to enhance their performance.
Supporters of the executive order argue that expanding school choice is critical to addressing long-standing disparities in education quality. They emphasize that increasing competition will drive innovation and improve educational outcomes for students across the country.
President Trump’s executive order marks a shift in federal education policy, placing the emphasis on parental control and student success rather than on a one-size-fits-all public education system.
The administration expects initial policy changes to take effect by the 2025-26 school year, with agencies providing recommendations and implementation plans within the next 90 days.
It is a start, however, in the end the Department of Ed should be shelved and the States be responsible for the quality of their respective citizens.
Cheers,
Johnson-Ketchikan
Well done Mr. President, well done!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
A giant step in the right direction.
Excellent!
Well, there’s that pesky little issue of the Alaska state constitution. Until we change that, the union grifters in indoctrination, I mean education, will continue to destroy our future.
You just know the NEA passed bricks when they saw this; the only way to break the stoopidification of America.