Fact Check Team: Trump aims to reshape education landscape, boosting options for families

WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to explore reallocating existing funds to support alternatives to traditional public schools, aiming to expand school choice. This move is part of an executive order that prioritizes programs offering families more educational options.

School choice allows parents to decide where their children attend school, potentially using public education funds for private, charter, or magnet schools. The initiative is designed to provide families, particularly those with low incomes, better options, improve competition, and enhance student outcomes. Supporters argue it increases opportunities, while critics contend it may divert funds from public schools.

The American Federation of Teachers has criticized the initiative, claiming that vouchers often benefit wealthy families whose children are already in private schools. Eligibility for these vouchers varies by state and program, with many aimed at assisting low- to middle-income families, students with disabilities, or those in underperforming public schools. However, nine states, including Arizona and Florida, have broadened eligibility, allowing nearly all families to choose from available learning options with state funds, according to Excel in Ed in Action.

The executive order also instructs the Department of Education to provide guidance on how states can use federal funding formulas to support K-12 scholarship programs, potentially redirecting existing federal funds to bolster school choice initiatives. The federal government has announced $33 million in grants for charter management organizations under the Charter Schools Program.

In contrast, federal, state, and local governments allocated $878.2 billion, or $17,700 per pupil, to fund K-12 public education in 2024, according to U.S. public education spending statistics. The impact of reallocating funds for school choice will depend on how each state's education department decides to implement these changes and the amount of federal funding they receive.