Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families
Feb 3, 2025
Signed by: Donald Trump
Signed on: Jan 29, 2025
Published on: Feb 3, 2025
Feb 3, 2025
Signed by: Donald Trump
Signed on: Jan 29, 2025
Published on: Feb 3, 2025
Summary
Helps parents choose the best school for their kids by letting them use government money for different options like private or faith-based schools.
What problem does this solve?
Many children are struggling in their assigned public schools, which have low reading and math scores. This order directs federal agencies to find ways to use government money to support state programs that give families more choices for their children's education.
What does this order do?
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Guidance on supporting state-based k-12 educational choice
Guides states on using federal funds for school choice
Requires the Secretary of Education to issue guidance on how states can use existing federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice programs.
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Encouraging education freedom through discretionary grant programs
Prioritizes education freedom in federal grants
Directs the Secretary of Education to make 'education freedom' a priority when awarding discretionary grants.
Expands school choice for military families
Requires the Secretary of Defense to create a plan allowing military families to use Department of Defense funds to attend schools of their choice, including private or faith-based schools.
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Helping children eligible for bureau of indian education (bie) schools
Provides options for Native American students
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan for families of students eligible for Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools to use federal funds for other educational options.
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Expanding opportunities for low-income, working families
Allows block grants to support educational choice
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to guide states on how block grants, like the Child Care and Development Block Grant, can be used to expand educational choice for low-income families.
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Encouraging education freedom through discretionary grant programs
Requires agency plans to expand education freedom
Orders the Secretaries of Labor and Education to review their grant programs and submit plans to the President on how to use them to expand education freedom.
Who does this affect?
- K-12 students and their families
- Military families
- Families of students eligible for Bureau of Indian Education schools
What is the real world impact?
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Diverts funding from public schools
Critics may argue this order weakens the public education system by redirecting federal funds to private and religious schools. This could reduce resources for traditional public schools, which serve the majority of students.
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Improves student achievement through competition
Introduces competition to government-run public schools by giving families the ability to choose other options. The belief is that this pressure will cause all schools, including public ones, to improve their performance to attract students.
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Empowers parents in their children's education
Supports the idea that parents, not the government, should have the final say in their child's upbringing and education. Provides families with the financial means to select educational settings that best fit their children's needs and their family's values.
When does this start?
This order sets multiple deadlines for federal agencies to take action within 60 to 90 days of its signing on January 29, 2025.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Guidance on supporting state-based k-12 educational choice
Guidance on federal formula funds
Within 60 days (by March 30, 2025), the Secretary of Education must issue guidance on using federal funds for K-12 choice initiatives.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Encouraging education freedom through discretionary grant programs
Plans for discretionary grant programs
Within 90 days (by April 29, 2025), the Secretaries of Labor and Education must each submit a plan to the President on using grants to expand education freedom.
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Text:
Section:
Header:
Expanding opportunities for low-income, working families
Guidance on block grants for low-income families
Within 90 days (by April 29, 2025), the Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue guidance on using block grants for educational choice.
Plan for military families
Within 90 days (by April 29, 2025), the Secretary of Defense must submit a plan for military families to use funds for school choice starting in the 2025-26 school year.
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Text:
Section:
Header:
Helping children eligible for bureau of indian education (bie) schools
Plan for Bureau of Indian Education students
Within 90 days (by April 29, 2025), the Secretary of the Interior must submit a plan for BIE-eligible students to use funds for school choice for the 2025-26 school year.