American politics rarely focuses on K–12 education, and the reason is obvious. Students cannot vote, they have no direct voice in national debates, and elected officials tend to prioritize issues with immediate political payoffs. But President Trump took a different approach. In his first year back in office, Trump reshaped American education by shifting authority away from bureaucracy and into the hands of families.
A key part of the administration’s strategy is a nationwide federal tax credit designed to expand educational options for low- and middle-income families. Under this approach, individuals and corporations can receive tax credits for donating to Scholarship Granting Organizations. These nonprofits distribute scholarships that allow students to attend private or charter schools that better meet their needs.
Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program already serves more than 120,000 students annually, and a series of Urban Institute studies found that participants graduate high school and attend college at higher rates than similarly situated public school students. Trump’s plan extends this opportunity to families across the country without removing a single dollar from public school budgets, because the scholarships are financed entirely through private donations.
This matters for millions of students locked into schools based solely on ZIP code. For families whose assigned schools are chronically underperforming, unsafe, or unable to provide basic services, choice is a lifeline. Trump’s policy does not mandate that families leave public schools. It simply ensures they have alternatives and the financial ability to pursue them.
The administration also modernized 529 education savings accounts to reflect the realities of how students learn today. Previously, these accounts were used primarily for college tuition or capped K–12 tuition expenses. Under the expanded rules, parents can use 529 funds for tutoring, textbooks, test preparation, homeschool materials, online learning programs, and specialized educational services. This change gives families the ability to respond immediately when a child needs support, instead of waiting months for district approval or navigating layers of administrative delay.
For the 7.3 million students receiving special education services, the impact is even more significant. Families regularly pay $100–$250 per therapy session for speech therapy, occupational therapy, or other specialized services—often with limited insurance coverage. Public school waitlists for these services can stretch for months. Allowing 529 funds to cover these expenses removes barriers that have kept essential care out of reach for too many children.
Trump’s reforms also acknowledge that education extends beyond traditional four-year degrees. Vocational and technical training programs—welding, HVAC repair, cybersecurity, licensed nursing assistance, and more—are now eligible 529 expenses. These programs typically cost between $1,800 and $10,000 and lead directly into high-demand careers. Federal education policy has ignored this pathway for decades. Trump’s reforms recognize their value and align education funding with modern workforce needs.
The urgency of these reforms becomes clear when examining the failures of major public school systems. This year, the Department of Justice filed a civil rights lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools for embedding race-based preferences into employment decisions. According to the complaint, layoffs and recalls prioritized race over seniority and performance—an explicit violation of federal law. These policies do nothing to improve instruction. They represent a system that places ideology above merit while student outcomes continue to decline.
Chicago’s situation is even more alarming. An inspector general report uncovered $23.6 million in misused spending on luxury travel, including $1,000-per-night hotel rooms, overseas trips, and conferences that doubled as vacations. This occurred while only two in five students read at grade level, math proficiency sits near 25 percent, and nearly half of students are chronically absent. Chicago does not suffer from inadequate funding, but from a crisis of priorities.
New York faces a similar disconnect. Despite spending more than $39,000 per student—the highest level in the nation—nearly half of the students cannot meet basic reading benchmarks. State lawmakers continue directing millions toward politically favored initiatives with no connection to academic performance. If spending alone determined quality, New York would lead the country. It does not.
School choice is the most direct accountability tool available to families. Charter schools routinely provide more instructional time, clearer expectations, and stronger academic cultures. Studies consistently show that students in choice programs are more likely to remain engaged in school and less likely to engage in criminal activity. When families can leave, districts must improve—not because legislation forces them to, but because competition does.
Trump’s education agenda is grounded in a straightforward principle: parents understand their children’s needs better than bureaucratic systems designed to serve themselves. For decades, Washington set the standards while districts competed for federal dollars. Trump reversed that structure. He placed resources and authority directly into the hands of families and demanded that education systems compete for their trust.
A generation that lacks strong literacy, numeracy, and civic knowledge weakens the nation’s workforce, economic competitiveness, and democratic foundations. If America fails to educate students today, it will not maintain its leadership tomorrow. The future of the country depends on an educated generation—and Trump’s reforms move the nation closer to that goal when it matters most.