For the second year in a row, Tennessee governor Bill Lee is attempting to have the State Legislature pass a universal school voucher program. If successful, this program will create an education freedom scholarship beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Opponents of the voucher bill say that the cost of the program will be prohibitively expensive and take away dollars from public schools, among other things.
If the law passes both houses of the legislature, it would provide 20,000 scholarships to Tennessee residents to attend private schools.
Who Qualifies?
Specifically, 10,000 scholarships would be available for students whose household income does not exceed 300 percent of the the amount required for students to qualify for free or reduced lunch. Currently, for a family of four that amount would be $173,000.
The rest of the 10,000 scholarships can go to any student regardless of income criteria.
How Much Is the Scholarship Worth?
Each scholarship for the 2025-2026 school year would be worth $7,075. This is the amount the state sends to school districts for each enrolled student.
What Opponents Say
Opponents say that the money to be used for the scholarships will take away money intended for public schools. Lee, however, said that the budget set aside for the program is a different pot of money than that of public schools. Estimates of the total cost for the first five years go as high at 861.9 million dollars.
Furthermore, opponents say that there is no provision in the bill for accountability for private schools. Students in private schools are not required to take End-of-Course tests or report any test results to the state.
Additionally, opponents say that the vast majority of scholarships would go to students who already attend private schools. The initial scholarship amount of $7,075 does not cover the tuition and fees for most private schools. For example, Clarksville Academy’s tuition is $13,820 a year for high schoolers. That leaves a shortfall of $6,745 for families. Families who are already on free or reduced lunch could have difficulty in funding the remainder.
According to opponents, students with disabilities who attend private schools are not protected by the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or IDEA. This act guarantees children with disabilities access to a free and appropriate education.
What Proponents Say
Proponents of the plan say that families should have a choice in where their children attend. They say that public schools may not adequately educate their children. Lee said in a statement, “Every child deserves an opportunity for success regardless of their income or ZIP code, and I look forward to delivering on this promise with the Education Freedom Act.”
To counter those who say that there is no accountability, part of the bill calls for a standardized achievement test each year for participating students in 3rd through 11th grade.
What Else is in the Bill?
- Lee has proposed giving each Tennessee teacher a one-time $2,000 bonus.
- The bill allocates 80 percent of privilege taxes collected from sports wagering for construction and maintenance of public school buildings
