Tennessee House District 65 stretches through southern and western Williamson County, including parts of Franklin, Thomson’s Station, and Fairview.¶
Representative Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, won the seat two years ago and is facing former TNGOP State Executive Committee member Michelle Foreman in next month’s GOP primary. As part of an ongoing series, the Tennessee Firefly reached out to each with questions about key education issues the General Assembly will grapple with next year.¶
Only Reeves responded to the questionnaire, but Firefly staff have included Foreman’s statements, where possible, on these issues.¶
Expanding the Education Freedom Scholarship Program
The topic of private school choice is one key area where Reeves and Foreman have differing viewpoints.¶
Reeves expresses strong support for programs like the Education Freedom Scholarship that allow families to use taxpayer dollars for private school expenses. He additionally voted to expand the program this year.¶
“Yes. I support the Education Freedom Scholarship program because I believe parents are in the best position to determine the educational environment that fits their child,” Reeves said. “Williamson County has outstanding public schools, and I strongly support them. But every child learns differently, and some families need another option. As the program demonstrates success and remains accountable to taxpayers, I would support responsible expansion.”¶
Aligning with Union Opposition
In comments on her Facebook page, Foreman is highly critical of the Education Freedom Scholarship, and she expresses an opinion favored by unions like the Tennessee Education Association that the program largely benefits families whose children are already in private school.¶
“I support parents directing educational decisions for their children. However, the vouchers take desperately needed money away from our school system, our children, and our teachers,” Foreman said. “My opponent voted to give hundreds of millions of dollars to families who already had children in private school, and to administer this program. That was a vote for special interests and bureaucrats, and against the families of our district.”¶
Improving Education Outcomes
Firefly staff also asked each candidate how they would improve student outcomes in Tennessee.¶
Foreman prominently features her stance on limiting government in education on her campaign website, while Reeves tells the Firefly that he sees continued investments in literacy, teachers, and data as the way forward for improving education.¶
“Tennessee has made tremendous progress because we've focused on high standards, accountability, and giving educators the tools they need to succeed,” Reeves said. “Going forward, we should continue investing in early literacy, intervene quickly when students fall behind, support great teachers, and use meaningful data to identify what works. Every decision should be guided by one question: what produces better outcomes for students?”¶
“As a mother who homeschooled through government lockdowns, Michelle understands the need for parental involvement, excellent teachers, and a quality education for all children. She will support policies that put parents in the driver’s seat, and give our schools the tools they need so students succeed. And she will work to keep our private schools and homeschools free from government intrusion,” Foreman’s campaign website stated.¶
Expanding Public Charter Schools
Williamson County does not currently have a public charter school, though there have been applications to start one in the past. Charters are free public schools run by a non-profit under a “charter” with a school district or the state.¶
Reeves tells the Tennessee Firefly that he supports the continued growth in this type of school in locations beyond the six counties that currently have them.¶
“Yes. Public charter schools provide another public education option for families while remaining accountable for student performance. Unlike traditional public schools, charter schools can be closed if they consistently fail to meet expectations. They won't be the right fit for every student, but families across Tennessee should have access to high-quality educational options,” Reeves said.¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any comments from Foreman about public charter schools.¶
Reducing Barriers to Open Enrollment
This year, lawmakers came close to passing legislation that would make it easier for families to enroll their children in school districts outside of the one they’re zoned for, sometimes called open enrollment.¶
Reeves was among those who voted for the bill when it narrowly failed to advance out of committee and expressed support for open enrollment moving forward.¶
“I support giving parents greater educational opportunities for their children, and open enrollment could be one of those opportunities, when implemented responsibly. Any policy should respect local capacity, transportation realities, long-term planning, and ensure that how school districts are funded is taken into account. I believe we can find ways to expand opportunities for families while preserving the excellence of successful public school systems,” Reeves said.¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any comments from Foreman about open enrollment.¶
Preserving Accountability for Students and Teachers
Recent years have seen proposals in the General Assembly to weaken both the state assessment and teacher evaluation systems, despite research showing both have contributed to improved student performance.¶
The Tennessee Firefly asked both candidates whether they favor protecting the existing systems or believe changes are needed,¶
“Evaluations and assessments are important because they provide the information needed to improve student outcomes. Every profession benefits from thoughtful performance evaluations, and our teachers are dedicated professionals who want to help every student succeed. At the same time, we should continually review our assessment system to ensure we're collecting meaningful information without creating unnecessary testing burdens. The goal should be accountability that supports teaching and learning, not accountability for its own sake,” Reeves said¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any comments from Foreman about testing or teacher evaluations.¶
One Democrat, Julian Pierre-Griffin, qualified for the ballot and will face either Reeves or Foreman in November.¶
