TN Senate set to hold first vote next week on Gov. Bill Lee's statewide school choice bill

Tennessee lawmakers are days away from a first vote on Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed statewide school choice program.

According to an advance copy of the legislation obtained by The Tennessean, Lee’s final Education Freedom Scholarships proposal would offer taxpayer-funded grants to 20,000 students to attend private schools of their choice without any annual TCAP testing or other state-monitored accountability measures for participating students.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, will file the final text of the governor’s on Wednesday, according to Senate Republican Caucus spokesperson Molly Gormley.

The bill will be up for consideration in the Senate Education Committee next week, she said.

“I think it's important that we give parents an opportunity to choose another alternative for their kids,” Johnson told reporters during a recent news conference.

Little has changed in the weeks since a early draft of the bill was obtained by The Tennessean. As finalized for introduction, the governor’s proposal does not include any testing or accountability requirements for participating students. Students in public schools are required to complete testing each year, as our students who participate in the existing Education Savings Account program, a school voucher plan for Davidson, Shelby and Hamilton counties.

“This is a parental rights bill. This is giving choice to parents to pick an educational alternative that is best for their child,” Johnson said. “It may be that their child has unique learning needs – so I'm very cautious about imposing everything that we impose on our public education system on these other alternatives.”

“Ultimately, parents will make the decision about final accountability, in my view,” Johnson added.

In the first year, 10,000 slots would be reserved for students whose families fall under 300% of the federal poverty level – about $90,000 per year for a family of four. The remaining 10,000 scholarships would be open in 2024-25 to any student who qualifies, regardless of family income.

While participation would be capped at roughly 2% of Tennessee’s school aged children during the first year, universal eligibility for any Tennessee K-12 student – regardless of family income – would open beginning in 2025. Certain homeschoolers would be eligible to participate.

Students would not be allowed participate in both the state’s existing Education Savings Accounts program and the new Education Freedom Scholarship program at the same time.

A fiscal analysis for the proposed amendment is not yet available. Lee has earmarked $141.5 million in his $52.6 billion proposed annual budget to kickstart the statewide program. Funding for Education Freedom Scholarships would be entirely from the state General Fund: no local dollars would fund the program, nor would money come directly from the state's existing K-12 funding formula. Lee's budget also includes $261.3 million in new funding for public schools and public school teacher salary increases.

According to the final text, funds could be used for:

• Tuition, fees, and uniforms

• Textbooks and instructional materials

• Tutoring services

• Transportation fees

• Computer hardware and technology

• Summer school tuition, textbooks, and materials

• Fees for dual enrollment and AP exams

• Educational therapy services

Scholarship funds are not considered taxable income.

Lee has long advocated for offering families more school options, and says the program is aimed at empowering parents to find the best school to fit their child's educational needs. Critics of the proposal, commonly referred to as school vouchers, say it could dismantle public education in Tennessee and defund public schools. Democrats in both chambers have denounced the proposal as "a coupon program for the wealthy."

A growing number of local school districts, including in Republican parts of the state, have also voiced their opposition to the proposal.

As discussions on the governor’s many legislative proposals continue, Lee has invited members of the legislature from both sides of the aisle to the executive residence for meetings behind closed doors.

“The Governor shares meals with lawmakers throughout every legislative session,” spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson told The Tennessean in an email. “These gatherings are bipartisan and there is no set topic or agenda.”

More: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's statewide school voucher pitch: Here's what to know

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, recently told reporters that changes are likely as the legislature considers Lee's proposal.

The Senate Education Committee will meet next week on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m.

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VIvian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN Senate set to hold first vote next week on school voucher bill