President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday titled Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families. The order seeks to address systemic challenges in the U.S. education system by promoting school choice and providing families with greater flexibility in selecting the best educational options for their children.
The executive order comes in response to alarming data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which revealed that 70% of 8th graders are below proficient in reading and 72% are below proficient in math.
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Trump emphasized that the current system, which ties students to geographically assigned public schools, has failed too many children and placed undue financial strain on families seeking quality education.
“Parents want and deserve the best education for their children,” the order states. “But too many children do not thrive in their assigned, government-run K-12 schools. When our public education system fails such a large segment of society, it hinders our national competitiveness and devastates families and communities.”
The executive order outlines several measures to support educational freedom and expand opportunities for families across the country:
- Guidance on State-Based K-12 Educational Choice: Within 60 days, the Secretary of Education is directed to issue guidance on how states can use federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives, including scholarship programs that allow families to choose private, faith-based, or charter schools.
- Encouraging Education Freedom Through Discretionary Grants: The Secretary of Education is tasked with prioritizing education freedom in discretionary grant programs. Additionally, the Secretaries of Education and Labor must review their respective grant programs and submit plans to the President within 90 days on how to use these funds to expand educational choice.
- Expanding Opportunities for Low-Income Families: The Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to issue guidance within 90 days on how states can use block grants, such as the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), to support families who choose educational alternatives to traditional public schools.
- Supporting Military Families: The Secretary of Defense must review mechanisms that allow military-connected families to use Department of Defense funds for schools of their choice, including private, faith-based, or public charter schools. A plan to implement these options by the 2025-26 school year must be submitted to the President within 90 days.
- Helping Children Eligible for Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Schools: The Secretary of the Interior is required to review mechanisms that allow families of students eligible for BIE schools to use federal funding for educational options of their choice. A plan for implementation by the 2025-26 school year must be submitted, along with a report on the current performance of BIE schools and available alternatives.
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“More than a dozen states have enacted universal K-12 scholarship programs, allowing families—rather than the government—to choose the best educational setting for their children,” the order states. “These states have highlighted the most promising avenue for education reform: educational choice for families and competition for residentially assigned, government-run public schools.”
The implementation of the executive order will depend on the actions of federal agencies and state governments, as well as the availability of appropriations.
The Trump administration has signaled its commitment to working with states and stakeholders to expand educational freedom and ensure that families have access to a wide range of high-quality educational options.
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