President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon hosted a White House event Monday to mark the start of the new school year, unveiling new education policy initiatives centered on school choice expansion and parental rights.
The administration highlighted two key policy changes: the Education Freedom Tax Credit, set to begin in 2027, which will provide taxpayers with a credit of up to $1,700 for donations to scholarship-granting organizations, and an increase to 529 education savings plans, allowing families to withdraw up to $20,000 annually for K-12 expenses. The White House stated that nearly 52 million students could be eligible for the tax credit.
Trump framed the initiatives as part of an effort to put parents “back in charge” of their children’s education, arguing that existing public education spending has not yielded sufficient student outcomes. “We want every parent to have the power to send their child to a high-quality school that shares their values,” Trump said during the event. The administration also emphasized changes to 529 plans, doubling the previous withdrawal limit for K-12 expenses.
The event included parents, students, and educators who shared testimonials supporting the expanded school choice measures. One parent, Caleb Griffith of North Carolina, described how school choice could benefit his family, which includes two children with special needs.
The White House framed the event as a celebration of the administration’s education reforms, including efforts to return Department of Education responsibilities to states and promote voucher expansions. Secretary McMahon has previously stated that her department’s role should be reduced, with more control delegated to local and state governments.
The administration’s push for school choice aligns with broader Republican priorities, though it has faced opposition from some Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups. Critics argue that such policies could divert funding from public schools and exacerbate educational inequities. Supporters, however, contend that school choice empowers families to select educational environments that best meet their children’s needs.
The event occurred as students across the country returned to classrooms for the new academic year, with the administration positioning its education policies as a central achievement during the back-to-school period.