President Donald Trump has officially declared January 25-31, 2026, as National School Choice Week, marking a significant push by his administration to expand educational options for American families. The proclamation, issued January 28, comes amid a flurry of state and federal initiatives aimed at transforming how parents access schooling alternatives.
“Every Oklahoma child deserves access to the best education possible, no matter their zip code or family income,” said Governor Kevin Stitt, who signed an executive order on January 27 establishing the Oklahoma School Choice Hub, a digital portal designed to help families navigate educational options.
The national observance builds on momentum from the One Big Beautiful Bill, enacted by Trump in July 2025, which provides a $1,700 federal tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations. It’s part of what the administration calls a broader effort to return educational control to states and families.
Record Funding and Federal Support
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has emerged as a central figure in the administration’s school choice agenda. “The best education is the one that’s closest to the child,” McMahon remarked during the week’s events.
Under her leadership, the Department of Education has awarded $500 million to Charter Schools Programs—the largest such investment in history. The department is also supporting states in using up to 3% of their federal Title I allocations for education choice initiatives.
“That’s why the Trump Administration has worked to invest a record $500 million for charter school expansion, support the first-ever federal tax credit for education scholarships, and most importantly, return education to the states – so that decisions are made closest to the child,” McMahon said.
Is this a watershed moment for school choice advocates? Many think so. The week has featured events at more than 26,000 schools and organizations nationwide, with governors from both parties issuing proclamations in support.
Parents Exploring Options
The push comes as American families increasingly consider alternatives to traditional public education. A national survey revealed that 75% of parents considered a new school in 2025, with 62% likely to do so again in 2026.
In North Carolina alone, families had 2,467 local public school choice options during the 2024-25 school year, according to research highlighted during the week.
“National School Choice Week is an annual joyful celebration designed to highlight the momentum behind education freedom at the state and federal level, encourage parents to explore school choice options, and urge policymakers to expand them further,” said Virginia Gentles of the Independent Women’s Forum.
President Trump also welcomed pro-school choice leaders to the White House, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education across socioeconomic lines.
States Taking Action
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) used the occasion to release its 2026 State Education Freedom Rankings, evaluating policies across five categories. The timing was deliberate, coinciding with the national focus on educational options.
“What better way to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence than for states to provide universal education freedom to their students?” said ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson.
In his official proclamation, Trump declared: “NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 25 through January 31, 2026, as National School Choice Week.”
As the week draws to a close, the question remains whether this renewed push for school choice will translate into lasting educational transformation—or become another front in America’s ongoing culture wars over how and where children should learn.
