BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
For 250 remarkable years, our Nation has thrived on a fundamental truth: The American populace — not a cadre of bureaucrats, politicians, or fringe activists — possesses the inherent right to shape their own future. This National School Choice Week, we reaffirm this cherished principle, renewing our commitment to empower every American parent with the autonomy to determine the educational path of their family — and, by extension, the future of our Nation.
Regrettably, decades of misguided Federal education policies have resulted in plummeting reading and math scores, alongside an alarming surge in Government expenditure. The dawn of America’s Golden Age is rooted in the classroom. Therefore, I have prioritized the expansion of educational freedom, placing children and parents back at the forefront of our focus.
My Administration works tirelessly to ensure that universal school choice is recognized as a fundamental right for every family. No child should find themselves ensnared in an inadequate educational environment, and parents deserve an abundance of choices rather than a scarcity. Driven by this vision, we are dedicated to guaranteeing that each child — irrespective of their geographical location — has access to an exceptional education and the opportunity to realize the American Dream.
Last July, I was proud to sign into law the groundbreaking One Big Beautiful Bill, which, for the first time in American history, establishes a nationwide tax credit program designed to enhance educational affordability for families. Any taxpayer can reduce their tax liabilities by contributing to a scholarship-granting organization, enabling American families to utilize these scholarships to choose the educational options that best align with their needs and values.
This One Big Beautiful Bill also makes education more financially accessible by providing every American newborn with a Trump Account, streamlining the use of 529 accounts for elementary and high school expenses, not just college tuition.
Moreover, I issued an Executive Order last year mandating the Department of Education to provide guidance on how States can utilize Federal funding formulas to bolster their K-12 scholarship initiatives, while also instructing the Secretary of Education to prioritize school choice programs within the Department’s grant offerings. I have further directed the Secretary to facilitate the eventual closure of the Department of Education, which is expected to save billions and empower States to dictate their own educational policies.
In our efforts to protect American parents, my Administration is putting the brakes on the questionable “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” agenda, instead fostering a framework centered on merit. We are unequivocally cutting Federal funding for institutions that endorse discriminatory practices and anti-American indoctrination. We are reintroducing common sense into our classrooms, teaching our children to cherish their country and appreciate its history.
As my Administration continues to advocate for American families, I commend each State that is spearheading the school choice movement by implementing universal K-12 school choice initiatives within their communities. I look forward to collaborating with other States and Congressional leaders to ensure universal school choice is a reality for every American family.
The bright future of America hinges on the next generation’s capacity to learn, lead, and innovate. I will always champion the right of every parent to guide their children’s education, and together, we will steadfastly prioritize our parents, our children, and our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
