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President Donald Trump on Monday marked the back-to-school season by promoting his administration’s school choice agenda and pledging to put parents “back in charge” of where and how their children are educated.
Speaking at a White House event alongside Education Secretary Linda McMahon, students, parents and educators, Trump said his administration is working to expand school choice while removing what he called “far left extremism” from classrooms.
“We’re putting the parents back in charge,” Trump said. “They’re the ones that love our children. They’re the ones that should be in charge.”
Trump argued that despite how much the U.S. spends on education, student outcomes should be stronger and families need more schooling options.
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President Donald Trump speaks during an event Monday in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We want every parent to have the power to send their child to a high-quality school that shares their values. It’s so important,” Trump said.
The president highlighted the Education Freedom Tax Credit, which beginning in 2027, will offer taxpayers a credit of up to $1,700 for eligible donations to scholarship-granting organizations.
Those organizations can provide scholarships for education-related expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, school fees and classroom supplies. The funds can also benefit students attending public schools.
The White House said nearly 52 million students could be eligible for the Education Freedom Tax Credit.
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Trump addresses young students in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday, where he said student outcomes should be stronger and families should have more options when choosing where to send their children to school. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump also highlighted changes to 529 education savings plans that allow families to withdraw up to $20,000 annually for K-12 expenses, doubling the previous limit.
Several parents joined Trump at the event to describe how expanded school choice could help their families.
Caleb Griffith, a North Carolina father of five who said his family includes two children with special needs, said the Education Freedom Tax Credit will give his children “access to the services they need to be successful in the most formative years of their lives.”
“I want to tell you, we only get one chance to educate our children, and our children are the future of America,” Griffith said.
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McMahon said the administration is seeking what she described as a “hard reset” in American education, with a goal of returning “to common sense.”
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“This school year, American parents and students have so much to be excited about because the Trump administration is steering education back to its rightful focus, serving students so that they are prepared for successful futures,” McMahon said.
