Trump issues executive order prioritizing federal funding for school choice programs
President Trump on Wednesday issued an executive order that prioritizes and frees up federal funding for school choice programs, directing the Secretaries of Education and Labor to "review their respective discretionary grant programs and each submit a plan" within 90 days on how to expand school choice.
The executive order also directs the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, to submit a plan to Mr. Trump for how military families can use Defense Department funds to send their kids to the school of their choosing.
More broadly, it directs the Department of Education to prioritize school choice programs through its discretionary grant programs, and orders the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on how states receiving block grants for families and children can use those funds to support private and faith-based institutions.
Mr. Trump's new executive action comes as the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress shows that 40% of 4th graders did not meet basic reading levels, the highest percentage ever recorded.
he data, released Wednesday at midnight, also shows 4th and 8th grade average reading scores have continued a downward trend, each down two points from 2022. According to the NAEP, 70% of 8th graders weren't proficient in reading and 72% weren't proficient in math.
"Every child deserves the best education available, regardless of their zip code," the White House document reads. "However, for generations, our government-assigned education system has failed millions of parents, students and teachers. This executive order begins to rectify that wrong by opening up opportunities for students to attend the school that best fits their needs."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/trump-to-sign-order-prioritizing-school-choice-for-military-families/ar-AA1y20c9