National School Choice Week, 2026

This proclamation designates January 25–31, 2026, as National School Choice Week. While largely ceremonial, it references several substantive policy actions: the One Big Beautiful Bill establishing a nationwide tax credit for scholarship-granting organizations, Trump Accounts for 529 education savings, an executive order directing the Department of Education to support state K-12 scholarship programs, and a directive to facilitate closure of the Department of Education.

Federal Register Open PDF 91 FR 4841

Timeline

Immediate

National School Choice Week designation takes effect January 25–31, 2026

Near term (90d)

Department of Education guidance on federal funding formulas for state K-12 scholarship programs (ongoing from prior EO)
Prioritization of school choice in Department grant programs (ongoing)

Long term

Implementation of nationwide tax credit for scholarship-granting organizations via One Big Beautiful Bill
Trump Account/529 expansion for elementary and secondary education
Potential closure of Department of Education (ordered but no deadline specified)

Risks & tensions

Proclamation conflates ceremonial observance with policy advocacy, making boundary unclear

Reference to Department of Education closure lacks timeline or statutory authority, creating implementation uncertainty

Federal funding cuts to schools with DEI programs mentioned but not specified in this document

Tax credit program details (caps, eligibility, phase-in) not specified in proclamation text