Tennessee House District 18 includes sections of southwest and central Knox County.¶
Representative Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, has held the seat since 2022, and this year, former assistant U.S. attorney Brent Jones qualified to challenge her in the GOP primary.¶
As part of an ongoing series, the Tennessee Firefly reached out to House District 18 candidates with questions about key education issues the General Assembly will grapple with next year. Only Davis responded to the questionnaire, despite multiple attempts by Firefly staff to reach Jones in recent weeks.¶
Support for the Education Freedom Scholarship
Few education topics have attracted as much attention in GOP primaries this year as private school choice. President Donald Trump ran on a 2024 GOP platform that included support for allowing families to use tax dollars for private school expenses, and he publicly supported Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program that lawmakers expanded this year.¶
Davis voted for that Education Freedom Scholarship program and its expansion. She told the Tennessee Firefly that she would support reasonable expansion moving forward.¶
“Yes. I supported the Education Freedom Scholarship Program because parents, not government, are best positioned to determine the educational environment in which their child can succeed. The program provides another option for families whose assigned school may not meet their child’s academic, safety, or individual learning needs,” Davis said. “The General Assembly expanded the maximum number of scholarships from 25,000 to 35,000 for the 2026–2027 school year. I support responsible expansion when there is demonstrated parental demand, sufficient funding, and strong safeguards against fraud or misuse. Expansion should not come at the expense of Tennessee’s continued investment in public education. We can support strong traditional public schools while also respecting the right of parents to choose another accredited educational setting for their child.”¶
Davis also said she would be open to expanding Tennessee’s other private school choice program, the Education Savings Account, if families in Knox County “overwhelmingly demonstrate support for it.” That program is currently only available to families in Hamilton, Davidson, and Shelby County.¶
Position Uncertainty
Jones has not discussed the Education Freedom Scholarship program on social media or on his website and provided only a vague comment in an interview with the Knoxville Sentinel that appeared to support the program, while offering no specifics about whether he’d back expanding it.¶
“I'm a public-school kid, and so is my wife. Almost a million Tennessee students attend public schools, and we should want those schools to be the best in America. At the same time, I support educational freedom because every child is different, and parents should be empowered to choose the educational environment that gives their child the best opportunity to succeed,” Jones said.¶
How Would You Improve Education Outcomes
Firefly staff also asked each candidate how they would improve student outcomes in Tennessee. Davis stressed the importance of education fundamentals and improving working conditions for teachers.¶
“Improving student outcomes requires returning the focus of education to academic fundamentals: reading, writing, mathematics, science, civics and workforce readiness. I support maintaining high academic standards, expanding proven literacy and tutoring programs, strengthening career and technical education, improving school safety and ensuring that education funding reaches the classroom,” Davis said. “We must also recruit and retain excellent teachers by improving working conditions, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and maintaining discipline in the classroom. Parents must remain the primary decision-makers in their children’s education, with access to transparent curriculum information and meaningful educational choices. Our goal should not simply be increased spending, but measurable improvement in literacy, mathematics proficiency, graduation rates and preparation for college, technical training or the workforce.”¶
Jones lists providing a better education as one of his priorities on his campaign website, though he provides few specifics on how he’d work to improve student outcomes.¶
“Brent believes that a strong foundation in education is key to a child’s future success. He is committed to ensuring that teachers and schools are equipped with adequate funding and tools, including technology necessary to prepare the next generation for the challenges ahead. Having grown up in a rural community, Brent understands the unique obstacles many students face and is dedicated to making sure every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential—whether through higher education or vocational training,” said a passage on the website.¶
Expanding Public Charter Schools
Knox County currently has just two public charter schools, and the community is expected to receive more applications in the future. Charters are free public schools run by a non-profit under a “charter” with a school district or the state.¶
The Tennessee Firefly asked candidates whether they’d support expanding this type of school into more communities, including more in Knoxville.¶
“Yes. Public charter schools are public schools that must meet state academic standards, but they can provide families with different instructional models and give educators greater flexibility to innovate. Parents should not be denied a quality educational option simply because of their ZIP code or income. Emerald Academy, here in Knoxville, is an excellent example of a successful public charter school leading the way,” Davis said. “I would welcome additional high-quality charter school applications in Knox County, particularly proposals that address an unmet community need, demonstrate strong academic and financial plans and have meaningful parent support. Expansion should be based on quality rather than an arbitrary number. Charter schools must be held accountable for academic performance, financial integrity, student safety and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any comments that Jones has made about 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.¶
Davis was not a member of the subcommittee that voted on the legislation, but she told the Firefly that she supports reducing barriers to open enrollment.¶
“Yes. When a public school has available capacity, families should have a fair and transparent opportunity to apply for enrollment even when the school is outside their assigned zone. Open enrollment can give students access to academic programs, career and technical courses or educational environments that better meet their needs,” Davis said. “I would support legislation establishing clear application periods, published capacity information, objective admissions criteria and a meaningful appeal process. Policies should prevent discrimination or selective enrollment while preserving reasonable priorities for students who live within the district or attendance zone. Transportation responsibilities, classroom capacity, special education services, and school safety must also be considered. The objective should be to give parents more choices without creating unmanageable costs or overcrowding for local school systems.”¶
Firefly staff were unable to find any comments that Jones has made about open enrollment.¶
Other Challengers for House District 18
Both Davis and Jones will also face attorney Elliot Schucheardt in the GOP primary. He’s reported only a few hundred dollars in contributions from individuals other than himself and also declined to respond to Firefly questions.¶
The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Bryan Goldberg in November.¶
