Commentary
President Trump
signed an executive order last month directing the Department of Education to prioritize discretionary funding for school choice initiatives.
This order is a step in the right direction and puts wind in the sails of the school choice movement. However, executive orders have limitations. The Education Department’s discretionary funding for school choice is restricted, so while the order is encouraging, it cannot extend educational opportunities to all American families.
For national implementation of school choice, Congress needs to take action. Fortunately, Republicans in Congress introduced a nationwide school choice bill last month called the
Educational Choice for Children Act.
The bill establishes a federal tax credit scholarship program that operates independently of the Department of Education, which President Trump aims to eliminate. This setup allows Congress to expand school choice while phasing out the Department of Education.
Individuals and corporations would receive federal tax benefits for contributing to organizations that offer scholarships to K-12 students. The House Ways and Means Committee
passed a version of the bill in a party-line vote last September. This marked the first time a nationwide school choice bill passed out of a Congressional committee in US history. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune both
support the legislation, and President Trump
indicated his willingness to sign it.
An estimated two million students could benefit from these scholarships, representing less than 4% of the approximately
55 million K-12 students in the US.
For widespread education freedom, states play a crucial role. Around
90% of K-12 education funding comes from state and local sources.
A recent survey revealed that Critical Race Theory concepts are prevalent in schools, prompting parental concern. The survey found that a significant percentage of US high school students are taught that “America is a fundamentally racist nation” on a regular basis.
With heightened parental awareness, progress in school choice has surged in the past few years. Prior to the school closures in 2020, no states had universal school choice policies. Now,
13 states have enacted universal school choice.
These states, all with Republican-controlled legislatures, have taken the lead in addressing parental concerns about leftist indoctrination in public schools. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is heavily influenced by teachers unions, hindering progress in education reform.
Red states are expected to continue spearheading education freedom efforts. For example,
Tennessee recently became the first state to fully embrace school choice in 2025, with more red states likely to follow suit.
In Texas, the Senate has already approved a universal school choice bill, with President Trump and other prominent figures expressing support for its passage in the House.
Similar advancements are happening in Idaho, where the House passed a universal school choice bill, and Governor Brad Little has advocated for expanding school choice.
President Trump continues to monitor these developments closely, endorsing efforts to bring school choice to more states.
The passage of this bill is crucial and I fully support it. Let’s ensure it gets the necessary approval from the Idaho Senate.
In other states like Wyoming, New Hampshire, and North Dakota, similar bills are making progress towards expanding school choice. It’s heartening to see bipartisan support for empowering parents with education freedom.
It’s time for Democratic politicians to recognize the importance of school choice and align themselves with the will of the people. Embracing this movement not only benefits them politically but also paves the way for a much-needed revolution in education freedom nationwide. Please rewrite this sentence.
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