House members voted 57 to 35 Wednesday to expand Tennessee’s Education Savings Account Program (ESA) following a strong pushback by Democratic members.
The Tennessee General Assembly passed the Education Saving Account program in 2019 to allow lower income families in Davidson and Shelby County to use state and local dollars to help cover private school expenses. Legal challenges delayed the ESA from launching until last year.
Representative Mark White’s legislation adds Hamilton and Knox County to the original 2019 pilot program.
“I’m standing here as a person who believes in parental school choice for options for parents and children where there is no other option, this is for those who have no options. Many of us do, that’s why I’m for charters, public, private, homeschooling, anything that helps the parent. The parent makes the choice. There’s nothing in this bill that prevents the parent from making the best choice for their child,” said Representative White.
Critics of the ESA program, including Knoxville Democratic Representative Gloria Johnson, say it takes needed state funds away from public schools and places them into private schools.
“I think it’s important to note that some of my colleagues from Knox County might have brought this to you. However, the citizens of Knox County, the majority of them, do not want vouchers and that is a fact by polling,” said Representative Johnson.
Democrats also argued there hasn’t been enough conversation with parents and community leaders about the ESA program and they questioned why rural counties haven’t been included.
Nashville Representative Bo Mitchell also criticized the politics that enabled the ESA program to pass in the first place.
“This pilot project, I think it’s a felon project. We know how it got here. This House should repeal this legislation and clean up our act because we know how this happened. And be honest with the people, you stood up there and told this House that it was for kids in failing schools. You know that’s not the case. You know that it’s not enough money for a kid to go to a private school,” said Representative Mitchell.
Despite the pushback from House Democrats, Republicans painted the legislation as a way to provide school choice options to families who can’t afford to send their kids to a better school without assistance.
Knoxville Republican Representative Michelle Carringer says voters in her district in Knox County have been overwhelmingly supportive.
“I’ve received emails, texts, and phone calls asking to please work and try to get Knox County added on to this bill,” said Representative Carringer. “I believe parents should have the choice in how they educate their children.”
The legislation passed the Senate in February but that bill only included an expansion to Hamilton County. Senators are scheduled to vote to add Knox County to their legislation today.
