School Choice Is Winning Over Blue States

Colorado Governor Jared Polis just said out loud what many Democrats quietly know. School choice works. That is why Colorado will opt in to President Donald Trump’s new nationwide school choice program.

The program was created as a tax credit as part of the Working Families Tax Cut, passed by President Trump and the Republican Congress in July 2025. It is a pro-family reform that directs education dollars to students and parents, not entrenched systems.

Polis put it plainly. “I would be crazy not to.” He is right.

This is not a symbolic move. It is a practical one. The tax credit gives families real options and gives states flexibility. When funding follows students, schools have to compete, improve, and respond to parents.

For years, school choice has been framed as a partisan fight. In reality, it is a results-based reform. When parents can choose the best school for their child, outcomes improve. Strong schools are rewarded. Failing schools face pressure to change.

Colorado’s decision matters because it breaks the political script. A Democratic governor evaluated a Republican-led reform on the merits and chose students over ideology.

That choice reflects a broader truth. Education systems built around ZIP-code assignments leave too many children behind, especially working families with limited options. School choice introduces accountability where bureaucracy has failed and expands opportunity without raising taxes.

The Working Families Tax Cut allows states to opt in. It does not impose a federal mandate. That flexibility is intentional. States can design programs that reflect local needs while empowering families.

Colorado acted first. Other blue states should follow. School choice is winning because it works.