Trump signs sweeping executive order to expand school choice
President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Wednesday that would prioritize and free up federal funding to expand school choice programs.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Wednesday that would prioritize and free up federal funding to expand school choice programs.
The order impacts several federal departments and directs the Education Department to prioritize school choice programs through its discretionary grants, in addition to issuing guidance to states about federal allocations to districts and schools, a senior White House official said.
“Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding how States can use Federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives,” the order says.
The order, entitled "Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families," directs the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance that explains how states receiving block grants for families and children can use that money for faith-based and private institutions within the next 90 days.
It also directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to present a plan to Trump for how military families can use Pentagon funds to send their children to schools of their choosing, and directs the interior secretary to submit a plan for how students at Bureau of Indian Education schools can take advantage of federal funds for school choice.
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