Trump’s education nominee advocates for a nationwide school-choice policy

Election night marked a seismic shift in the politics of K-12 education in America, with the victories of pro-school-choice candidates in states like Texas and President-elect Trump’s school-choice mandate signaling the beginning of the end of the 40-year dominance of the teachers’ unions in American politics (source).

Over the decades, supporting school choice has been seen as a risky move for candidates due to conventional wisdom and the billions of dollars spent by the teachers’ unions on political activities.

However, in 2024, voters broke through this barrier, and both Trump and state-level leaders are capitalizing on this new trend (source).

Trump made school choice a central theme of his campaign, emphasizing it as one of the most important initiatives he would undertake, including the establishment of a federal tax credit scholarship for K-12 education.

By nominating Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education, Trump reinforced his commitment to expanding school choice across the country and empowering parents to make educational decisions for their families.

McMahon has a strong track record of advocating for school choice and is well-positioned to implement Trump’s education agenda.

New York and other traditionally blue states stand to benefit the most from the federal school-choice push under the new administration.

The federal legislation will allow individuals who donate to local scholarship groups to receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, providing significant incentives for supporting educational choice.

This program will enable more parents to take control of their child’s education, promoting competition and improvement in public schools.

The recent electoral victories in Texas serve as a case study of the growing support for school choice, with Republican candidates winning key races and securing a school-choice majority in the Texas House.

The momentum for educational freedom is building, with the potential for half of American families to be eligible for school-choice programs across 34 states.

If the federal legislation is signed into law, families in all 50 states will have access to educational freedom, sending a clear message to politicians about the importance of supporting school choice.

Leaders like Trump, McMahon, and the Texas legislature have a mandate to enact bold reforms and reshape the American education system for the better.

2024 marked a significant shift in education policy, and 2025 holds the promise of further transformation in the education landscape.

Tommy Schultz is the CEO of the American Federation for Children and AFC Victory Fund, advocating for school choice and educational reform.