Trump Uses State of the Union Address to Push for Tax-Credit Scholarships, Declaring No Child Should Be Forced to Attend ‘a Failing Government School’
K-12 education took center stage on Tuesday night during President Trump’s State of the Union address. The president used this opportunity to urge Congress to take action on a significant school choice legislation known as the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act. This bill, backed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, aims to modify the tax code to provide financial support for school choice options, including private school tuition.
President Trump’s endorsement of this legislation, which has not been a priority for him in the past, suggests that he might use it as leverage against Democrats in the upcoming November elections. He emphasized the importance of providing every young American with a quality education and the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. He urged Congress to pass the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act, stating that no parent should be compelled to send their child to a failing government school.
In her response, Governor Gretchen Whitmer did not directly address the tax-credit proposal but instead delivered her remarks from a Michigan high school. President Trump dedicated approximately five minutes to educational issues in his speech, briefly touching on First Lady Melania Trump’s "Be Best" campaign for child safety, and proposing the inclusion of vocational education in all American high schools. Towards the end of his address, he also expressed his commitment to protect the constitutional right to pray in public schools.
Prior to the State of the Union, it was announced that the White House intended to showcase the president’s support for this legislation during the prime-time address. This annual speech serves as an opportunity for the president to advocate for his legislative priorities, highlight policy achievements, and acknowledge supporters in the audience. It also serves as a platform for incumbent presidents seeking re-election to advertise their accomplishments in K-12 education.
President Trump has previously demonstrated his support for the scholarship bill during a meeting with conservatives in December, where he criticized Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania for vetoing an expansion of the state’s tax-credit program. During Tuesday’s address, the president recognized the presence of Janiyah Davis, a fourth-grade student from Philadelphia, whose family is on a waiting list for Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit. The president assured Janiyah that she would soon receive an Opportunity Scholarship, without specifying the details of its arrangement as it falls under the state’s jurisdiction. He also publicly urged members of Congress to pass a federal tax credit that would give one million American children the same opportunity as Janiyah.
Governor Whitmer delivered her response from East Lansing High School, where her daughters are enrolled. It is customary for opposition leaders to tap an up-and-coming politician to provide the response to the State of the Union. Governor Whitmer’s first year in office has been marked by education-related conflicts, including her veto of a funding increase for for-profit charter schools and a lawsuit over the use of public funding for private schools. In her speech, she commended Democratic governors in Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Colorado for their efforts in increasing teacher salaries and expanding public pre-K programs. She also expressed admiration for student activists who have been advocating for changes in areas such as gun violence and climate change.
The president has not focused on federal education policy during the first three years of his administration. In his first State of the Union address in 2018, he briefly mentioned young people in the DACA program but said little about schools. Last year, he indirectly suggested that Congress should "pass school choice," which seemed unlikely since Democrats had recently gained control of the House, making it difficult for Republicans to pass major legislation before the 2020 presidential election.
However, a few weeks after that speech, Education Secretary DeVos proposed the tax-credit scholarship plan, which has gained support from over 100 Republican co-sponsors.
This idea is significant for DeVos, who has been a prominent advocate for private school choice. Before joining the Trump administration, DeVos and her husband pushed for a school voucher program in their home state of Michigan. Although their campaign was unsuccessful, their support for charter schools and generous contributions to political allies have had a significant impact on public education in the state.
After the president’s speech, DeVos expressed her gratitude and support for the proposal, highlighting the need to free students, parents, and teachers from a limiting government system. She emphasized the alarming number of students who struggle with basic literacy and math skills, stating that President Trump is dedicated to addressing this issue.
The Education Freedom Scholarship bill mirrors existing laws in 18 states, providing tax credits to taxpayers who donate to organizations that sponsor private school scholarships. The federal initiative, costing approximately $5 billion annually, would also allocate funds to other programs such as apprenticeships, early childhood education, and homeschooling.
DeVos originally hoped to include such a program in the 2017 tax overhaul but faced opposition from conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation. The bill has remained stagnant in Congress for nearly a year due to the Democrats’ reluctance to take action.
However, even as a symbolic measure, this legislation could impact the 2020 presidential race. President Trump has long wanted to use school choice as a divisive issue against Democrats, especially considering the growing debates within their party regarding charter schools since he took office.
By elevating school choice as an issue, President Trump hopes to rally his own supporters while causing division among Democrats. Surveys show that black and Hispanic Democrats are more supportive of charter schools compared to their white counterparts. On the other hand, many leading Democratic presidential candidates have proposed limitations on charter schools nationwide, and some blue states are even considering charter moratoriums.
While private school voucher programs, like those proposed by DeVos and other Republicans, may not have the same level of support among voters of color as charter schools do, there has been some discontent among parents who want more educational options. If President Trump can attract even a small amount of support from traditionally Democratic constituencies, it could benefit his chances of re-election.
