WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced new measures to broaden educational opportunities for parents and children across the nation. These efforts, grounded in President Trump’s Executive Order 14191 titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families,” are focused on enabling parents to choose the educational settings that align with their values and their children’s needs.
“HHS is taking bold, decisive action to protect every parent’s right to choose the best education for their child,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “I’m committed to ensuring ACF succeeds in delivering President Trump’s vision: putting federal dollars in the hands of families, not bureaucrats, and giving every child a real chance to thrive.”
Federal Actions Supporting Parental Choice
Executive Order 14191, issued on January 30, 2025, highlights the administration’s concerns about the performance of government-run K-12 schools, citing gaps in student proficiency in math and reading as revealed by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The order asserts that geographic school assignments contribute to financial strain on families, particularly affecting housing costs.
The administration’s stated policy is to increase parental empowerment in education by expanding access to private, faith-based, and non-governmental schooling options. To meet these goals, the ACF is implementing a range of initiatives across its key programs.
Key ACF Programs and Their Initiatives
- Office of Child Care (OCC):
The OCC has issued an Information Memorandum (IM) to aid states in expanding educational services eligible for Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) support. The directive empowers parents to use vouchers for childcare programs, including private and faith-based options, ensuring that educational decisions remain in the family’s hands. - Office of Family Assistance (OFA):
Through a new Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the OFA is guiding states on how to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support after-school and childcare programs. These can include non-governmental entities, further increasing the range of educational choices for families.
“Parents have the right to know all the available options in choosing the best settings for their children, including private and faith-based education options,” remarked ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison. “With these actions, ACF is offering guidance across multiple programs to put parents first.”
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Early Childhood Development Dr. Laurie Todd-Smith also emphasized the importance of empowering families to make education decisions, saying, “We must empower parents to seek out the best education for their children and provide the resources they need to enroll. Only then will we see families thrive and children achieve the reading and math scores we know they are capable of.”
The Vision for Educational Freedom
The executive order sets forth multiple provisions aimed at expanding pathways to school choice, including guidance on using federal funding for K-12 educational options and prioritizing these initiatives within discretionary grants. The Secretary of Education has been tasked with issuing clear guidance to states on this funding, alongside developing plans to integrate education freedom into additional grant programs.
Further measures under the order include enhancing options for low-income families, military families, and students eligible for Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. The incorporation of federal funding into school choice for these groups is intended to provide a more inclusive and equitable approach to education access.
Long-Term Implications
This initiative could reshape the landscape of American education by enhancing competition in the sector. By providing families the freedom to choose from a range of educational environments, the administration asserts that this increased competition will lead to better outcomes for students and improved performance in public schools.
Beyond educational metrics, these efforts aim to uplift disadvantaged communities, reduce financial stresses tied to schooling decisions, and foster long-term satisfaction among parents and students.
Looking Ahead
The ACF’s actions under Executive Order 14191 signal a broader commitment to prioritizing family choice in education policy. With steps taken to channel federal resources directly to families and expand access to non-traditional education models, this initiative is intended to provide children with the opportunities they need to thrive academically and personally.
By focusing on transparency, choice, and empowerment, these measures could serve as a model for long-lasting reforms that address both educational performance and parental autonomy. Moving forward, as these initiatives take root, the potential for a transformed education system that better serves the diverse needs of American families will come into sharper focus.
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