RALEIGH — Following up on campaign promises involving school choice, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order on “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunities for Families.”
The order, dated Jan. 29, 2025, cites current public school educational challenges, noting that 70% of 8th graders score below proficient in reading and 72% below proficient in math according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
The order makes references to existing state-level universal K-12 scholarship programs as models for reform, pointing to research suggesting that education-freedom programs can improve student achievement and enhance public school performance through competition.
The order directs multiple federal agencies to take specific actions within 60 to 90 days, including ordering the U.S. Department of Education to provide guidance on using federal funds for educational choice and prioritize education freedom in grant programs.
Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services is directed to examine block grant usage for educational alternatives, the Department of Defense is ordered to explore school choice options for military families, and the Department of Interior must review educational options for Bureau of Indian Education-eligible students.
All implementation plans by these departments are to focus on the 2025-26 school year and must comply with existing laws and available appropriations.
Mike Long, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), issued a statement on the order. PEFNC is a leading nonprofit group that advocates for quality educational options through parental school choice in the state.
“With the eyes of the nation watching during this National School Choice Week, President Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to school choice with yesterday’s executive order,” Long’s statement said in part.
“Following the historic expansion in our home state—thanks to the North Carolina General Assembly—Congress now has the opportunity to follow suit by supporting the President’s pro-school choice agenda, including passing the Educational Choice for Children Act and expanding parental and family empowerment across America,” Long said.
In 2023, the legislature expanded the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) to all families in the state based on a tiered income system where low-income families get priority. The OSP provides scholarships ranging from $7,686 in Tier 1 to $3,458 in Tier 4. Following the expansion, over 77,000 new families applied in 2024 for the program.
