Trump Unveils Bold Plan to Transform America’s Education System: What It Means for Students and Families

• This week, Trump announced new executive orders to change US education.
• These orders focus on school choice and altering school curricula.
• A main goal is to direct federal funds to private schools that follow his agenda.

President Trump is looking to reshape education in America, aiming to give parents more influence over their kids’ schooling.

His recent executive orders propose offering more private school vouchers to families. One order asks the Secretary of Education to provide guidance on how states can use federal funds for K-12 education options.

However, it remains unclear how these plans will work in practice, especially since states largely control public school funding and curricula. Experts anticipate potential legal hurdles ahead.

Two key orders focus on changing funding towards K-12 schools that emphasize “patriotic education” and removing what they call “gender ideology” from classrooms.

Jon Valant from the Brookings Institution noted that while these orders signal an intention, they might not lead to significant changes right away. Instead, they instruct federal agencies to develop the strategies for implementation.

Despite this, Valant mentioned that schools might still feel pressured to comply with Trump’s wishes to avoid penalties, creating a perception of more impact than there actually is.

As schools await federal guidance, Jonathan Zimmerman, an education historian, highlighted contradictions in the orders. The “anti-indoctrination” order could itself be seen as a form of indoctrination, trying to dictate what can be taught in classrooms.

There’s also uncertainty about the legality of expanding school choice, which allows parents to use state or federal vouchers for private schools. The orders seek to clarify how federal funds might support this initiative.

The Education Department has not responded to inquiries for more information.

Supporters of school choice, like Robert Enlow from EdChoice, praised the executive orders, seeing them as a way to empower parents. Conversely, Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, criticized the orders, suggesting they undermine community schools and misallocate federal funds intended for disadvantaged kids.

Private school voucher programs have gained popularity in recent years, with states like Ohio and Arkansas expanding access, and Arizona even introducing a universal voucher program in 2022.

Despite support in Republican states for school choice, local lawmakers may resist federal involvement. Valant expressed skepticism about the administration making significant changes in this area.

Legal challenges are also expected due to the ambiguity surrounding the orders. Zimmerman remarked that the unclear legal authority could lead to court battles in the future.