President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at expanding school choice in areas under federal jurisdiction, specifically targeting military bases and tribal lands. This move is being met with approval from The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
Lindsey Burke, director of The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, expressed support for the executive order. She stated, "Thanks to President Trump, our service members no longer have to choose between serving our country and their children’s education. Military-connected children are too often assigned to the public schools closest to military bases, regardless of whether those district schools are right for them."
Jonathan Butcher, a senior research fellow in education policy at Heritage, emphasized the importance of this initiative. He said, “Given the challenges to recruiting and the value service members place on education for their families, offering members of the military more choices in education is nothing short of a national security issue.”
Jason Bedrick, another research fellow at Heritage, added that the executive order could also enhance national security. He cited a Military Times survey indicating that dissatisfaction with children's education was a significant factor for some service members deciding to leave military service.
The Heritage Foundation has been advocating for increased school choice for military families since 2017 as part of efforts to improve recruitment and educational opportunities. In 2018, they released a report suggesting that education savings accounts could help achieve these goals.
The Heritage Foundation describes itself as the largest conservative research and educational institution in America.
