On January 29, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families,” aiming to enhance school choice across the United States. The order addresses concerns over low academic proficiency—citing that 70% of 8th graders are below proficient in reading and 72% in math—and the financial strain caused by geographically based school assignments. It promotes the expansion of K-12 scholarship programs, allowing families to select the best educational settings for their children, including private and faith-based schools, thereby fostering competition among public schools.
To implement this vision, the executive order directs several federal departments to take specific actions:
- The Department of Education is tasked with issuing guidance on utilizing federal funds to support educational choice initiatives and prioritizing such programs in discretionary grants.
- The Departments of Labor and Education are to review their grant programs and recommend ways to expand education freedom.
- Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services will provide guidance on using block grants to support families choosing educational alternatives.
- The Departments of Defense and the Interior are instructed to develop plans enabling military-connected families and those eligible for Bureau of Indian Education schools to use federal funds for schools of their choice.