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Trump Department of Education rolls out latest step to expand school choice nationwide
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FIRST ON FOX – The Trump administration is rolling out what will be the fourth legal pathway for bolstering school choice nationwide as the U.S. Department of Education aims to hand back powers to the states – before ultimately dismantling itself.
The department on Thursday issued what is referred to as a «Dear Colleague Letter to State and Local Education Agencies,» providing additional guidance to help state and local school districts better serve students who attend private schools but who are still eligible for federally funded academic support. The letters aim to explain «more efficient and effective ways to best meet students’ needs.»
Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), eligible private school students are entitled to Title I-A funded equitable services, which can include one-on-one tutoring, summer school programs or counseling programs.
Since its passage in 1965, private school students and teachers have been eligible to participate in federal education programs sponsored under the law. The department said lawmakers determined that ESEA programs benefit children – as opposed to schools – and if a child is eligible, he or she may receive program services. Though Title I-A funds don’t go to private schools, their students and teachers may still receive services provided or facilitated through the local educational agency (LEA).
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Education Secretary Linda McMahon outside the White House on July 15, 2025. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The department notes that private school families are federal taxpayers and their students, therefore, are eligible recipients of services similar to their public school peers using federal funding. The letters also point out that private school students generate a proportion of the Title I-A federal funding that local education agencies receive. The Department of Education said those agencies are encouraged to work with private school officials to identify ways to best support eligible students.
«It has been a banner year for school choice – from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill federal school choice tax credit to the Department’s guidance to states on how to expand choice under existing law, the Trump Administration is using all available tools to expand school options for students and parents,» Department of Education deputy press secretary Ellen Keast said in a statement to Fox News Digital. «President Trump and Secretary McMahon are working to ensure every child has access to an excellent education that best fits their unique learning needs.»
«Federal taxpayer dollars should support the best education outcomes for students regardless of where they attend school,» Hayley Sanon, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, said in a statement. «The Trump Administration is committed to expanding education choice and ensuring parents can choose an education option that is best for their child.»
«Improving how equitable services are provided means students in private school can have access to services and supports that best meet their unique learning needs,» Sanon added.
Thursday’s letters are considered the fourth piece of guidance the Department of Education has issued on expanding education choice options under ESEA.
President Donald Trump campaigned on dismantling the Education Department. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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In late March, the Department of Education issued guidance encouraging states to use federal Title I funds to expand school choice options for families. That letter highlighted ways states and local districts can reserve funds for direct student services such as advanced coursework, tutoring, dual enrollment and career training, giving parents more say in their children’s education.
Department officials said the move was part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to increase flexibility and support for families seeking personalized learning opportunities.
Sanon sent another letter in May urging states to strengthen how they identify and respond to unsafe schools, highlighting provisions in federal law that require students in persistently dangerous schools – or those who are victims of violent crimes at school – to be offered safer alternatives. The department noted that very few schools are formally designated as unsafe despite widespread reports of violent incidents, and Sanon urged states to adopt stronger definitions, improve data collection, and expand school choice options, including transfers and charter schools. The guidance was billed as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to ensure parents can choose safe learning environments for their children.
The Department of Education is handing powers back to state and local school districts. (iStock)
In June, the Department of Education also encouraged states and districts to expand school choice options for families in schools identified as low-performing under federal law. The guidance outlines how local education agencies can use federal Title I funds to support improvement plans that include parent-selected options such as tutoring, dual enrollment or career training – and even allow transfers from chronically struggling schools. Again, the Trump administration billed the initiative as part of a broader effort to give parents more meaningful input in their children’s education and ensure access to higher-quality learning opportunities.
The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Education Secretary Linda McMahon to fire hundreds of employees last month, a move that advances President Donald Trump’s plans to dismantle the department. As Trump campaigned on shutting the department down and outsourcing some of its responsibilities to other agencies, McMahon has said its «final mission» is to hand back educational powers to the states.
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Trump celebrated last month’s ruling on social media, writing: «The Federal Government has been running our Education System into the ground, but we are going to turn it all around by giving the Power back to the PEOPLE.»
2020 presidential election,dept of education,cabinet
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Top Trump agency torches Dem lawmakers rallying around detained Abrego Garcia: ‘It is insane’
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EXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security is unleashing on Democrats who have condemned the move by ICE to detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia and deport him to Uganda.
Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran national who was arrested by ICE on Monday at his check-in at the agency’s office in Baltimore, Maryland, and he’s expected to be deported to a third-party country, likely Uganda.
«Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not and will never be a Maryland Man—he is a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador and public safety threat,» a senior DHS Official told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.
ICE ARRESTS ABREGO-GARCIA AT MARYLAND CHECK-IN, LAWYER SAYS
Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his wife, Jennifer, speak to supporters outside of an ICE Field Office in Baltimore, Maryland. (Breanne Deppisch/Fox News Digital) (Fox News Digital/Breanne Deppisch)
«It is insane that sanctuary politicians chose to glorify and stand with an MS-13 gang member over the safety of American citizens. President Trump and Secretary Noem are not going to allow this illegal alien, who is an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator, to terrorize American citizens any longer.»
Earlier this year, Abrego Garica was first deported to El Salvador for being a suspected gang member, which caused a nationwide controversy that sparked visits to the Central American country, including by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland. However, he ended up later facing charges in the U.S. for alleged human smuggling after a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop resurfaced.
Last week, Abrego Garcia made his way back to Maryland from Tennessee, and a U.S. Magistrate Judge ordered that if he was taken into ICE custody that he would need to have «access to his attorneys» in order to «prepare for trial in this case.» His brief freedom was slammed as the result of «publicity hungry Maryland judge» by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
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In this handout provided by Sen. Van Hollen’s Office, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) meets with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia (L) at an undisclosed location on April 17, 2025 in San Salvador, El Salvador. (Sen. Van Hollen’s Office via Getty Images)
In a news release first shared with Fox News Digital, DHS is specifically taking aim at a handful of posts on X from Democratic lawmakers.
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«ICE is holding Kilmar Ábrego García and refusing to answer questions from his lawyers — while the Trump Admin continues to spread lies about his case. Instead of spewing unproven allegations on social media, they need to put up or shut up IN COURT. Mr. Ábrego García must be allowed to defend himself,» Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-M.D., posted on Monday.
«The Trump admin wrongly sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a horrific El Salvadoran prison. Now, just days after he was reunited with his family, they’re trying to deny him his rights and deport him to Uganda. Kilmar—like everyone—deserves a fair hearing to defend himself,» Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., posted.
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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed «activist» judges for the release of Kilmar Abrego-Garcia on Friday, August 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
«Let’s be clear: deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda makes no sense—it’s not his home country. Nothing about this process has been fair. ICE is targeting him with cruelty. This is the weaponization of government, not justice,» Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, wrote.
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His detention in Maryland is likely to be scrutinized by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, who intensely questioned Trump officials for details over his removal and his current legal status.
Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
immigration,homeland security,maryland,tennessee,kristi noem
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Netanyahu announces investigation into ‘tragic mishap’ after reports of journalists killed in Gaza strike
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that an investigation is underway after reports said Israel struck a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, killing at least 20 people on Monday, according to reports.
Netanyahu said Israel regretted the deadly incident and reiterated that Israel does not intentionally target civilians in its war with Hamas. Reports said among the dead were five journalists who worked for outlets such as Reuters, The Associated Press, and Al Jazeera.
«Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza,» Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
«Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home.»
The composite image shows structural damage to Nasser Hospital alongside Palestinians carrying the body of a journalist after the strikes; authorities said at least 20 people, including five journalists, were killed. (Reuters/Hatem Khaled)
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Reports, citing medical officials, said two shells hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in quick succession. Israeli media reported that Israeli troops had fired the artillery rounds at the hospital to target a Hamas surveillance camera on the roof.
Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed near a live broadcasting position on an upper floor just below the roof in the first strike, Palestinian health officials said.
Israel then struck the site again, killing additional journalists as well as rescue workers and medics who had rushed in to help, hospital officials and witnesses told Reuters.
IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin echoed Netanyahu’s comments, stressing that the military makes every effort to mitigate civilian harm while ensuring troop safety.
«We are operating in an extremely complex reality. Hamas terrorists deliberately use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as shields,» Defrin said in a video posted to social media. «They have even operated from the Nasser Hospital itself. Hamas began this war, created impossible fighting conditions and is preventing its end by still holding 50 of our hostages.»
A man examines broadcast equipment damaged by Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel regrets incident at Nasser Hospital and will investigate the strikes (Reuters/Hatem Khaled)
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Defrin said Israel will abide by international obligations and «investigate the deadly incident thoroughly and professionally.»
«Reporting from an active war zone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organization such as Hamas, who cynically hides behind the civilian population,» he added.
The other journalists killed were identified as Mariam Abu Dagga, who freelanced for the Associated Press and other outlets; Mohammed Salama, who worked for Al Jazeera; Moaz Abu Taha, a freelancer who contributed to several news organizations, including Reuters; and Ahmed Abu Aziz.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel regrets incident at Nasser Hospital and will investigate the strikes. (Getty Images/Jim Watson)
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Photographer Hatem Khaled, also a Reuters contractor, was wounded.
Fox News’ Yael Kuriel, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
benjamin netanyahu,conflicts,israel,middle east,terrorism
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