Donald Trump School Choice Executive Order: Here’s Who’s Impacted

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order to expand school choice across the country. While this policy could allow more students access to alternatives outside of public schooling, critics warn it might divert essential funding from public schools and exacerbate educational inequalities.

Why It Matters

Access to school choice programs varies widely by state. While some states offer voucher programs and charter school funding, others have resisted, leaving students in underperforming public schools with limited options.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which provides a comprehensive measure of students’ academic achievement across the country, overall student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The percentage of eighth-graders reading below NAEP Basic is the highest in the assessment’s history, and the percentage of fourth-graders scoring below NAEP Basic is the largest in 20 years.

By redirecting federal funds, Trump’s executive order aims to expand opportunities for families seeking alternatives to traditional public schools. However, critics argue that redirecting federal funds to expand school choice could further strain public schools and exacerbate educational inequalities.

What To Know

Trump’s executive order directs the Department of Education to prioritize school choice initiatives when awarding grants. The order also gives states guidance on how they can use federal funding to support school voucher programs and other alternatives such as charter schools and private school tuition assistance.

It also instructs the Defense Secretary to present a plan for military families to use Department of Defense funds for school choice, and the Interior Secretary to submit a plan for families with children attending Bureau of Indian Education schools to use federal funds for their preferred schools.

Aside from military families and parents of children who attend Bureau of Indian Education schools, it’s unclear exactly who will benefit most from Trump’s executive order. While states receive federal funding for voucher programs, eligibility for the voucher system varies on a state-by-state basis.

Supporters of the move argue that expanding school choice allows parents to select the best educational environment for their children, fostering competition that could lead to improved academic performance across all schools. Many Republicans have long advocated for school choice, arguing that public school systems often fail to meet the needs of students, particularly in low-income communities.

However, critics contend that diverting federal funds to private institutions could further weaken public schools, leaving those without access to alternative education options at a disadvantage. Some education experts warn that increased school choice could deepen existing educational inequalities, as wealthier families may be better positioned to take advantage of voucher programs.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump stated in his Inaugural Address: “And we have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves — in many cases, to hate our country despite the love that we try so desperately to provide to them. All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly.”

Frederick Hess, the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, stated: “Given the dismal results on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, released today, I’m pleased to see the administration doing what it can to ensure families have access to more and better choices.

While there are significant limits to what’s possible, given statutory constraints and Washington’s modest role in K-12 schooling, it’s notable that the administration is doing what it can to extend the parental choice rather than stymie it — a pattern that was all too familiar during the past four years.”

Tim Walker, senior writer for The National Education Association, previously wrote: “Voucher laws generally do not require any sort of disclosure from private schools about their finances, how they operate, or how they measure student achievement. Arizona’s is one of the least accountable voucher programs in the nation.

Recent audits revealed that private school parents, and now voucher recipients, have used the funds for a slew of, at best, questionable expenses, including kayak lessons, horseback riding lessons, home gyms, televisions, and more. Earlier audits conducted prior to the most recent expansion revealed similarly questionable uses.”

EdTrust stated in a press release: “What doesn’t work? Vouchers that direct public dollars to private schools lead to even worse academic outcomes and increase gaps between the haves and have-nots. Let’s call Trump’s proposed plan what it really is: ending public education by diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools.

This plan will cut essential funding and destabilize the public schools that serve the vast majority of students. We’ve seen the consequences of underinvestment at the state and federal level, as well as when states aren’t held accountable for supporting the success of their students attending public schools. State leaders asked for more freedom to improve education in their states. Clearly, they haven’t lived up to the agreement and students have paid the price.”

What Happens Next

If signed, the executive order will set in motion new guidance from the Department of Education on how states can allocate federal funds to support school choice programs. Linda McMahon, nominated to be the Secretary of Education, is awaiting Senate confirmation, but a date for her hearing has not yet been announced. In the meantime, Denise Carter is the current acting Secretary of Education.

Once confirmed, McMahon will likely prioritize school choice initiatives and issue guidance on using federal funds for educational alternatives. The implementation of this policy will largely depend on state-level decisions, with Republican-led states expected to embrace the changes while Democratic-led states may challenge or resist them. The long-term impact on students, educators and public school funding remains to be seen.