Trump Pushes for Universal School Choice
Former President Donald Trump has reinvigorated his campaign for universal school choice, urging that federal education funding should “follow the student.” In a recent event in Milwaukee, Trump emphasized his belief that the current system, which supports a “bloated and radical bureaucracy” in Washington, D.C., needs restructuring. His proposal aims to give parents the ability to send their children to any school, whether public, private, or religious. Trump referred to school choice as “the civil rights issue of our time,” underscoring his stance that a child’s education should not be limited by their ZIP code or their access to government-run schools.
Trump’s position on school choice reflects the broader Republican Party platform for 2024, which advocates for both federal and state governments to expand tax credit scholarship programs and Education Savings Accounts. These programs currently support over a million K-12 students in the U.S. Trump’s campaign highlighted the benefits of school choice, such as higher graduation rates, increased parental satisfaction, lower costs, and better academic performance. Presently, 11 states have universal school choice, with 32 states and Washington, D.C., offering at least one private school choice program.
Conway and School Choice Momentum
Kellyanne Conway, a former senior adviser to Trump, credited the former president with advancing the cause of universal school choice during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Conway, Trump’s leadership brought school choice to national attention, helping to establish policies that allowed for educational alternatives. She cited an increase in the number of states adopting these programs since Trump left office and noted the growing demand among parents for more control over their children’s education. Conway also pointed to the rising number of candidates running for school boards as evidence of parents’ renewed engagement with their children’s schooling.
Conway’s remarks also took aim at Democrats, particularly Vice President Kamala Harris, whom she accused of opposing school choice initiatives. According to Conway, Harris and her party have resisted efforts to expand school choice, favoring public schools over alternatives. She also noted that Trump’s support for charter schools and educational savings plans contributed to improving education opportunities, especially for minority and low-income families.
Democrats’ Opposition and Teachers’ Unions
While Trump and his supporters are pushing for expanded school choice, Democrats remain steadfast in their opposition. Vice President Harris, along with her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has been vocal about preserving public schools. Walz, a former teacher and union member, strongly opposes the school choice movement, which he argues undermines public education. Teachers’ unions, which played a significant role in the prolonged school closures during the pandemic, have expressed their approval of the Harris-Walz ticket, viewing it as a victory for public educators.
The Democratic platform emphasizes ensuring all children, regardless of their ZIP code, have access to quality public education. Democrats advocate for federal investment in public schools and oppose diverting resources to private or charter institutions. Harris’ campaign highlights plans to improve access to affordable childcare and higher education, along with initiatives aimed at reducing student loan debt. Despite this opposition, Trump and his supporters continue to frame school choice as a critical issue, vowing to prioritize it if Trump returns to office.
