Governor Lee to propose statewide expansion to program allowing families to use taxpayer money to attend private schools
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee plans to unveil the details of a proposed statewide expansion to the Education Savings Account (ESA) pilot program Tuesday.The current ESA pilot allows qualifying economically disadvantaged students who attend Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Hamilton County Schools, or a school that was in the Achievement School District on May 24, 2019, to apply state and local dollars toward education expenses at private schools.According to a one-pager obtained by the Tennessee Firefly, the proposed ESA expansion would be referred to as the Education Freedom Scholarship Act. It would provide for 10,000 scholarships in the 2024/2025 school year to Tennessee students that are economically disadvantaged or eligible for the existing pilot program along with an additional 10,000 scholarships available to all students.These scholarships would provide families with $7,075 to cover:
- Private school tuition, fees, and uniforms required by the private school.
- Textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials required by the private school.
- Tutoring services provided by a tutor or tutoring facility.
- Fees for transportation to and from a private school.
- Computer hardware, technological devices, and tech fees used for educational needs.
- Tuition, fees, textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials for summer and afterschool academic programs (public and private), not including afterschool childcare.
- Fees for early postsecondary opportunity courses or exams, entrance exams required for postsecondary admission, and industry credentials as promoted by TDOE.
- Educational therapy services provided by therapists.
“Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarships will empower parents with the freedom to choose the right education for their child—and give them a say in where their taxpayer dollars are spent,” wrote the Governor’s Office.The Governor’s proposal would award scholarships on a rolling first-come, first served basis and prioritize students who have an economic need in future years. The Governor also proposes increasing funding over time to eventually cover all Tennessee students interested in an Education Freedom Scholarship.The Governor’s proposal will need approval from the Tennessee General Assembly and that isn’t expected to be a rubber stamp. Last session the Republican supermajority failed to pass an expansion of the existing ESA pilot program into Knox County.
Criticism from Democrats
Republican leaders in the Tennessee General Assembly have largely held off commenting publicly about the Governor’s proposed expansion to the ESA but the same can not be said of lawmakers on the other side of the aisle.Democratic lawmakers began blasting the Governor’s proposal on social media almost immediately as news of it leaked to the public.“The level of fiscal irresponsibility in this plan is mind boggling. Huge transfer of tax dollars to wealthy families whose kids already attend private schools. Incentivizes unaccredited schools to recruit kids for the money while destabilizing school financing across the state.,” wrote Senator Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, on his social media page.
Other Democratic leaders, including Senator Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, questioned whether the proposed expansion will force districts to raise taxes to offset the loss in revenue. Campbell and other Democrats opposed the expansion of the existing ESA into Hamilton County earlier this year.“If you’re a Tennessean who cares about the future of our state then you’re opposed to vouchers. It will destroy public ed and raise your taxes- the only winners are out-of-state private investors- your tax $ will go to them while our kids lose the opportunity for a better future,” wrote Senator Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville.
