Staff Reports
President Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at unleashing the power of school choice across America. This groundbreaking decision tasks the Department of Education with prioritizing school choice through its federal grant programs while simultaneously lending a helping hand to states on how to utilize federal funds for K-12 educational innovations. The message is clear: Parents should have the freedom to choose where their children go to school, rather than being stuck in failing public systems that have only seen a decline in educational standards.
As part of this order, the Department of Health and Human Services has been instructed to provide guidance on how states may use block grants to support families in directing aid toward private and faith-based educational institutions. This is a smart move that recognizes the fundamental right of families to decide on educational paths for their children. After all, if the state doesn’t have a monopoly on education, perhaps students will finally receive the quality instruction they deserve.
The executive order doesn’t just stop with traditional K-12 education. President Trump has also called upon Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to formulate a plan allowing military families to access funds earmarked for the Defense Department to send their children to schools of their choosing. This is a long-awaited recognition of the unique challenges faced by military families who often have to change schools due to service commitments. They should not be penalized by a one-size-fits-all approach that often leaves them stuck in below-par public schools because of their situation.
Furthermore, plans are being requested for families with children in Bureau of Indian Education Schools to empower them with the choice of attending better-funded institutions. Providing these options to disadvantaged groups not only uplifts them but also challenges the narrative that only government-operated schools can serve our most vulnerable populations. Just imagine a scenario where students who need the most help are given the tools and resources necessary to thrive.
The order directs the Department of Education to prioritize school choice programs through its discretionary grant programs and provide guidance for how states can use federal funds to support K-12 “educational choice initiatives.”https://t.co/vnpnFNi5xJ
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 30, 2025
The timing of this order couldn’t be more relevant, especially in light of recent findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which suggests that a staggering majority of eighth-graders aren’t hitting the mark in reading and mathematics. The education system is crying out for reform, and Trump’s order aims to push for a much-needed transformation. The Department has stated the urgent need for change, emphasizing that students deserve better—a stark realization of the educational mediocrity that has persisted far too long.
While education unions and critics have already voiced their discontent, claiming the order undermines essential services and supports, it’s important to remember that this isn’t about “tax cuts for the rich.” This executive order is about parents reclaiming the right to choose what’s best for their kids, ensuring that federal funds empower families instead of being relegated to a bureaucracy that shows more concern for its own survival than the students it serves. If the education system can be partially funded by families selecting schools that suit their needs, then the future of educational choice has finally arrived.
