President Donald Trump’s administration has made significant strides in promoting homeschooling and school choice policies, marking a departure from previous educational approaches.
At a Glance
- Trump signed an Executive Order to expand school choice programs
- The Department of Education’s website now features pro-homeschooling content
- Critics argue school choice programs may harm public schools
- The administration views school choice as a civil rights issue
- The shift contrasts with the Biden administration’s focus on public schooling
Trump’s Executive Order on School Choice
President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families,” a move aimed at improving the lives of homeschooled children and parents who care for them. This order also prioritizes and expands school choice programs by freeing up federal funding, directing the Education Department to prioritize these programs through discretionary grants and issue guidance on federal fund allocations.
The Executive Order extends beyond the Education Department. The Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with issuing guidance on using block grants for faith-based and private institutions. Meanwhile, the Defense Secretary is directed to create a plan for military families to use Pentagon funds for school choice, and the Interior Secretary is to develop a similar plan for Bureau of Indian Education schools.
Shift in Educational Approach
The Trump administration’s approach represents a marked change from previous educational policies. Frederick Hess from the American Enterprise Institute views the order as a significant shift in Washington’s approach to education.
“Given the dismal results on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, 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,” Hess said.
The order coincides with National School Choice Week, recognized by the Education Department. Derrell Bradford noted that the order “is timely, given many governors, families, students and educators across the nation, in all types of schools, are celebrating National School Choice Week right now.”
The Trump administration’s Department of Education has shown strong support for homeschooling so far, contrasting with the Biden administration’s preference for public schooling. A blog post on the Department of Education’s website, titled “Homeschooling: The Lifeline We Didn’t Know We Needed,” advocates for homeschooling as a viable educational option.
The post, authored by Stephanie D. Birch, emphasizes the uniqueness of each child’s learning needs and the flexibility homeschooling offers. Birch discusses overcoming stereotypes about homeschooling and highlights its benefits for children who don’t fit the traditional educational mold.
Despite the administration’s enthusiasm for school choice and homeschooling, critics argue that these programs may harm public schools. Some worry that vouchers could subsidize wealthy families who already send their children to private and religious schools. But the reality is much bigger, and better: more families have more choice.