On January 18, 2025, a group of Republican governors gathered in Phoenix, Arizona, to unveil a nationwide campaign aimed at expanding school choice options for families across the United States. The initiative, called the “Parental Education Freedom Act,” seeks to increase funding for charter schools, private school vouchers, and homeschooling, all while giving parents greater authority over their children’s education.
Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona, who hosted the event, was joined by fellow Republican governors Ron DeSantis (FL), Kristi Noem (SD), and Greg Abbott (TX), who all emphasized the importance of increasing educational freedom and providing alternatives to traditional public schools. The initiative comes in response to growing concerns about the influence of progressive ideologies in public education, particularly around topics such as Critical Race Theory (CRT), gender identity, and sexual orientation.
“The ‘Parental Education Freedom Act’ is about empowering parents to make the best educational choices for their children without being constrained by outdated and ideological curriculums,” Governor Ducey said. “This bill will provide families with more opportunities to choose the educational path that best meets their children’s needs.”
The proposed law includes provisions for expanding school voucher programs, allowing public funding to be used for private school tuition. It also calls for increased funding for charter schools and homeschooling programs, as well as a push for greater transparency in public school curricula, particularly around sensitive subjects like race and gender.
Governor DeSantis, who has been a strong advocate for school choice in Florida, stressed that more educational options lead to better outcomes for students and families. He argued that increasing competition in the education sector could drive improvements in quality across the board.
“Florida has become a model for school choice, and we’ve seen real results,” DeSantis said. “This proposal will allow even more families across the country to have the freedom to choose the right education for their children.”
The proposal has received strong backing from conservative groups such as the Heritage Foundation and Moms for Liberty, both of which have long advocated for expanding parental control in education and removing what they consider inappropriate or politically motivated content from school curriculums.
However, the proposal has drawn opposition from teachers’ unions and progressive education organizations, which argue that diverting funds to private schools will weaken public education and exacerbate inequalities. Critics contend that wealthy families will benefit the most from expanded school choice, leaving low-income families with fewer resources and potentially underfunded public schools.
“This plan is an attempt to undermine public education and shift resources to private institutions, which only serves to further divide our educational system,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
As the initiative gains momentum, it is expected to play a prominent role in the 2025 political landscape, with education policy emerging as a key issue in upcoming local and national elections. With the debate over school choice growing more heated, the outcome of the proposed legislation could have significant implications for the future of U.S. education policy.
