President Trump’s Executive Order on Federal School Choice Scholarships

On January 31, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order aimed at expanding educational opportunities for American families through school choice. This order emphasizes the belief that parents should have the primary role in determining their children’s education rather than government institutions.

The executive order is a significant move towards redirecting federal funds to support private and alternative educational options represents a substantial shift towards promoting school choice by leveraging federal resources to empower parents in selecting educational pathways for their children.

Key Directives of the Executive Order

  1. Guidance for States on Federal Funding: The order directs the U.S. Department of Education to issue guidance on how states can utilize federal funding formulas to bolster K-12 scholarship programs. This means that states may receive advice on how to allocate existing federal funds to support school choice initiatives.
  2. Prioritization of School Choice Programs: The Secretary of Education is instructed to prioritize school choice programs within discretionary grant programs managed by the Department of Education. Discretionary grants are typically awarded based on specific criteria set by the department, allowing for more flexibility in supporting innovative educational approaches.
  3. Support from Health and Human Services (HHS): The executive order mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services provide guidance on how states receiving block grants for children and families can use those funds to support educational alternatives, including private and faith-based schooling options.
  4. Plans for Military Families: The Secretary of Defense is tasked with submitting a plan detailing how military families can access Department of Defense funds to enroll their children in schools of their choice, thereby enhancing educational opportunities for these families.
  5. Support for Bureau of Indian Education Schools: Similarly, the Secretary of the Interior must submit a plan regarding how families with children attending Bureau of Indian Education schools can utilize federal funds for school choice options.

Rationale Behind the Executive Order
The executive order cites concerning statistics from national assessments indicating that a significant percentage of students are not meeting proficiency levels in reading and math. For instance, it mentions that 70% of 8th graders were below proficient in reading and 72% were below proficient in math according to recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. This data serves as justification for providing families with alternatives outside traditional public schooling systems.

Additionally, it highlights that many states already have some form of school choice program, with a dozen states offering universal or near-universal options. Research has shown that school choice programs can lead to improved academic performance and increased safety perceptions among parents regarding their children’s education.

Implementation Timeline and Challenges
The executive order outlines specific timelines for implementation:

  • Within 60 days, guidance must be provided regarding how states can use federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choices.
  • Within 90 days, HHS must clarify whether states can use Child Care and Development Block Grants for educational alternatives.

However, there are anticipated legal and political challenges ahead as critics argue about the feasibility and legality of redirecting public funds towards private education without Congressional approval.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in The Ocean State Current, including text, graphics, images, and information are solely those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the views and opinions of The Current, the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity, or its members or staff. The Current cannot be held responsible for information posted or provided by third-party sources. Readers are encouraged to fact check any information on this web site with other sources.

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