During his Feb. 4 State of the Union address and in his education budget proposed on Feb. 10, President Donald Trump proposed spending $5 billion on a nationwide voucher plan.
The plan isn’t new. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos proposed it shortly after Trump named her to the top education slot in 2017. But while Trump has expressed support for vouchers in the past, his decision to highlight the scheme during the State of the Union is an indication that he might be planning to push vouchers during the 2020 presidential campaign.
Under the plan, the vouchers are euphemistically called “Education Freedom Scholarships.” Individuals and corporations would receive a 100-percent tax credit for money they “donate” to subsidize vouchers.
The voucher plan is expected to meet with great skepticism in Congress, especially in the House of Representatives where Democrats control the chamber.