Education Department Celebrates National School Choice Week
It’s National School Choice Week, and the U.S. Department of Education is celebrating remarkable steps taken last year to give parents more choice over their child’s education.
Running from Jan. 25-31, National School Choice Week celebrates the millions of parents who have chosen alternative education options for their children, and raises awareness about charter schools, private schools, homeschooling and other education opportunities available for families.
“During National School Choice Week, we celebrate how school choice has changed the lives of millions of students by empowering parents and families to choose a school or program that best meets their child’s needs,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a statement.
The secretary released a special message to celebrate:
According to a January 2026 poll by the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, more than 46 million U.S. parents (75%) considered finding a new school for at least one of their children last year – a five-year high, and up from 60% in 2024. Twenty-one percent of parents (13.3 million) ultimately enrolled their child in a new learning environment.
The survey found most parents who enrolled their child in a new school were motivated by practical factors including entering school for the first time (20%), moving between school levels (26%) or families relocating to a new community (16%).
However, the most common reason parents gave was dissatisfaction with their child’s previous school (32%).
Parents said that when selecting a new school, their top priorities are a safe, supportive environment (61%), a positive social environment (47%) and a particular educational approach – like STEM, arts or faith-based education (39%).
Secretary McMahon highlighted the importance of school choice for parents:
The Education Freedom Tax Credit was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald J. Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.
Taxpayers can receive a tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to a Scholarship Granting Organization, which then uses the funds to help children attend a school of their choice. States must opt-in to become a “covered state.”
Secretary McMahon shared a map of 23 states that have opted to participate in the tax credit program, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
On January 28, Florida became the 24th state to opt in to the tax credit.
“Florida families have access to the nation’s top ranked and largest school choice program. About 1.4 million students are enrolled in school choice options in Florida – more than most other states’ entire K-12 school population,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The new federal school choice program will allow Florida families to supplement their existing scholarships.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also plans to allow his state to participate in the program.
“[The tax credit] supports donors to give more money to our schools,” Polis told the Colorado Sun. “I mean, I would be crazy not to [participate].”
On Jan. 28, President Trump issued a proclamation celebrating school choice week.
“No student should ever be trapped in a failing school, and parents deserve more choices, not fewer,” the declaration states. “We are working to guarantee that every child — regardless of where they live — has access to a world-class education and a chance to achieve the American Dream.”
The Department of Education highlighted several further actions it took in 2025 to expand school choice:
- Awarded $500 million to the Charter Schools Programs, the largest investment in the program ever.
- Urged states to expand education choice by using up to 3% of their federal Title I allocation to support education choice initiatives.
- Encouraged states to continue to maximize parent options for choosing the safest school setting for their children.
- Provided guidance to states so that they can prioritize school improvement dollars to districts that will turn around underperforming schools and give students school choice options.
- Approved the first-in-the-nation “Returning Education to the States” Waiver to Iowa – empowering states and local leaders to have more control over their federal dollars.
- Released additional guidance on how states might provide equitable services for students enrolled in private schools in more efficient and effective ways to best meet private school students’ needs.
“Happy National School Choice Week,” Secretary McMahon said. “Here’s to giving parents more power, educators more flexibility, and students more freedom to be successful in 2026!”
For more information on school choice, check out our available articles and resources below.
Related articles and resources:
Putting Children First in Education
Is Homeschooling The Best For Me And My Kids?
Home Schooling: Giving Your Child a Strong Foundation
7 Things Every Homeschooling Rookie Should Know
Faith Development and Homeschooling
Education Department Launches ‘Presidential 1776 Award’ to Promote Civics Education
3 Reasons to Pay Attention to Your Child’s School
‘Equipping Parents For Back-To-School’ – Updated Resource Empowers Parents
Photo from Getty Images.
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