Executive Order: Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families – The White House

Date issued: Jan. 29, 2025

Executive Summary

This executive order aims to strengthen education-freedom programs in order to improve student achievement and foster competition among nearby public schools. The current educational system has had a devastating impact on families, communities and national competition. Seventy percent of 8th graders are below proficiency in reading and math, and school assignments based on geography drive up housing costs in districts with preferred schools. This order allows families to choose the best educational setting and school type for their children in order to address these issues.

Policy Actions

• The secretary of education will issue guidance regarding how states can use federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives.
• The secretary of education will prioritize education freedom in discretionary grant programs.
• The secretary of labor and secretary of education will submit a plan to the president that identifies, evaluates and makes recommendations regarding using relevant discretionary grant programs to expand education freedom for America's families and teachers.
• The secretary of health and human services will issue guidance on how states receiving block grants for families and children can use them to expand educational choice and support families who choose educational alternatives.
• The secretary of defense will submit a plan to the president describing necessary steps for military-connected families to use funds from the U.S. Department of Defense to attend schools of their choice, including private, faith-based or public charter schools.
• The secretary of the interior will submit a plan to the president describing necessary steps for families of students eligible to attend Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools to use their federal funding to attend schools of their choice, including private, faith-based or public charter schools.

Trump's 2025 Executive Orders: Updates and Summaries

Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group is reviewing President Trump's 2025 Executive Orders and other actions. To read all Executive Order Updates and Summaries, visit our landing page.