Donald Trump’s administration has issued several executive orders and policy directives aimed at significantly expanding the use of federal funding to support school choice policies nationwide.
These actions have sought to redirect federal dollars from traditional public schools to private schools, charter schools, and alternative educational options, including through vouchers and tax-credit scholarships[1][2][3].
Key Orders and Policy Actions
Impact and Outcomes
- Public School Enrollment: From 2019 to 2023, K-12 public school enrollment declined by 2.5%, a loss of over one million students, a trend attributed in part to the expansion of school choice alternatives[9].
- Shifting Federal Funds: The orders are designed to allow existing federal funds (which previously supported public schools and district-wide programming) to be used directly by families for private school tuition, homeschooling, and other non-public options, though the exact reallocation amounts depend on state-level implementation and opt-in[1][2][5].
- Discretionary Grants & Block Grants: The administration has instructed agencies to prioritize school choice in discretionary federal grant programs and to investigate converting child care and education block grants into vouchers for families rather than for school/provider programming[1][5][4].
- Participation and Legal Pushback: Democratic-led states have been more hesitant in adopting the full scope of these school choice policies, resulting in uneven national uptake. Many measures face ongoing legal and political challenges due to questions about executive authority to redirect existing appropriations without Congressional approval[1][6].
Key Numbers
| Policy/Program |
Amount/Scope |
Year |
Notes |
| K-12 Tax Credit Scholarship |
$1,700 per taxpayer per year |
2025-2027 |
100% credit, income up to 300% of area median, covers broad school expenses [6] |
| Public School Enrollment Decline |
-1 million students/ -2.5% |
2019-2023 |
Linked to school choice expansion and demographic trends [9] |
| Title I Formula Funds |
Billions redirected (potentially) |
2025 |
Guidance for state and local reallocation to choice options [8][1][5] |
| DoD and Bureau of Indian Ed Vouchers |
Federal funds for military/Native American families |
2025+ |
Plans for next school year [2][4][5] |
Research Evidence
- Proponents argue that school choice increases opportunity and educational attainment, especially for low-income families[6][1].
- However, research reviews (e.g., Brookings Institution, 2023) found that voucher-like programs have not consistently improved academic achievement and may even lower test scores, with the overall effect on public schools often being negative due to funding drains[3][2].
- Trump administration orders justified the expansion by citing low proficiency rates on standardized tests—70% below proficiency in reading and 72% in math for eighth graders in recent NAEP data[2][3].
In summary, Trump’s orders have prioritized the use of federal funding for school choice nationwide through executive action, federal guidance, and the new national tax-credit scholarship, aiming to give families more educational options—including private and religious schools—at the potential cost of decreased resources for traditional public schools, with mixed evidence of academic benefit[1][2][8][6][3].