Trump plans executive order expanding school choice initiatives

President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order aimed at expanding school choice initiatives by repurposing federal funds, particularly targeting K-12 voucher programs. This order directs the Department of Education to prioritize discretionary grant programs for school choice and provides guidance for states to utilize federal money effectively. Additionally, military families will be able to access Department of Defense resources to select schools for their children. The initiative comes amidst troubling academic performance results, with a significant majority of eighth-graders lacking proficiency in reading and math. The administration's move has garnered support from conservative advocates and aligns with Trump's longstanding education platform centered on parental choice. However, the impact of federal funding on overall school choice remains uncertain, as most education funding is sourced from state and local levels.