Parents Take Control
President Trump gathered families at the White House on Monday to push his school choice plan. He stood in the Rose Garden with Education Secretary Linda McMahon and parents who support the new direction. The President said the old system failed American kids and now parents get the power back.
“Before I got here, the education system was weaponized against the goals that we all stand for,” Mr. Trump said. He argued that the previous administration forced harmful ideas on children as young as 4 or 5, with extreme ideologies like critical race theory and transgender insanity.
The goal is to let public money follow the student to the school the family picks. Trump says this helps kids escape failing government schools. “We’re putting the parents back in charge,” he said.
He pointed to low test scores as proof that the old way did not work. “You just have to look at the charts. Education failed them as they possessed merely 30% proficiency in math and reading.
His administration signed an order to cut the Education Department and give control to the states. They also promoted tax-advantaged savings plans to help pay for homeschooling. The new One Big Beautiful Bill includes a tax credit for donations to private school tuition groups.
Federal Dollars Follow Students
The new law lets taxpayers claim a dollar-for-dollar credit of up to $1,700. This money helps fund private school tuition and other K-12 expenses. President Trump says these changes fix a system that taught students heroes are villains.
He stated that the FBI was utilized to target patriotic parents during school board meetings. “Students were taught that our heroes are villains, the FBI was used to target patriotic parents at school board meetings, and meanwhile, far too many government-run schools failed at the basics,” the president said.
Education activists have pushed back against these changes. Randi Weingarten, who leads the American Federation of Teachers, called the plan a “likely illegal scheme to diminish choice and deny resources to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.” She argued that vouchers steal federal money from public schools.
Ms. Weingarten said these funds often go to wealthy families whose children already attend private schools. The Washington Times reported that she believes the program hijacks federal money meant for public education.
The White House event marked the start of a new school year for millions of children. Trump wants families to use these new options immediately. The tax credits are now part of federal law for eligible students.
Parents can now use these funds to choose schools that match their values. The administration says this shift stops the government from dictating what children learn.
