Under President Trump’s proposed FY 2018 education budget, school choice would receive a massive $1.4 billion while the Education Department undergoes a $9 billion, or 13 percent, cut.
Overall, the proposed education budget cuts the Education Department’s budget from $68 million to $59 billion.
Within the proposed $1.4 billion school choice investment, charter schools get a $168 million boost, and $250 million is allocated toward a new private school choice program.
Title I funds would receive a $1 billion increase, but the funds would follow individual students should they decide to change schools.
IDEA funding for programs that support students with special needs and disabilities would remain stable at $13 billion.
In a statement, AFT President Randi Weingarten said the proposed education budget “takes a meat cleaver to public education.”
Next page: Reaction from education groups
Laura Ascione is the Editorial Director at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland's prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Latest posts by Laura Ascione (see all) - Children learn best on paper: We need better technology, not less of it - July 13, 2026
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