Summary of the Executive Order on Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families (January 29, 2025):
Purpose:
This executive order promotes school choice by expanding educational options for families, particularly those in low-income, military, and Native American communities. The administration argues that government-run schools are failing many students, citing low national test scores, and emphasizes parental control over education.
Key Actions:
- Supporting State-Based K-12 School Choice
- The Secretary of Education must issue guidance on how states can use federal education funds to support school choice programs.
- Encouraging School Choice Through Federal Grants
- Federal discretionary grant programs will prioritize education freedom, meaning more funding for charter, private, and faith-based schools.
- The Departments of Education and Labor must review existing grants and recommend ways to expand school choice options within 90 days.
- Expanding Educational Opportunities for Disadvantaged Families
- The Department of Health and Human Services will determine how states can use block grants (such as Child Care and Development Block Grants) to support private and faith-based education options.
- Helping Military Families Access School Choice
- The Department of Defense will explore funding mechanisms to help military families enroll their children in private, faith-based, or charter schools by the 2025-26 school year.
- Expanding School Choice for Native American Students
- The Department of the Interior will evaluate options for families of Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) students to use federal funds for alternative educational options, including private and charter schools.
Goals:
- Give parents greater control over their children’s education.
- Expand funding for alternatives to traditional public schools.
- Ensure low-income and military families have access to better education options.
This executive order prioritizes school choice, redirects federal funds to support private and charter school options, and seeks to improve educational outcomes through competition.