Tennessee lawmakers are currently divided on a school voucher bill, with the House and Senate presenting their own versions of the legislation. The House version of the bill costs $500 million and aims to strengthen the state’s existing school voucher program that is currently limited to students with special needs and those in specific counties. Republican Gov. Bill Lee is hoping for a compromise to be reached before the end of the legislative session.
The Senate version of the bill is half the cost of the House proposal and focuses on establishing Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act and opening inter-county school enrollment. The Senate’s version does not include provisions from the House such as increasing state payments for teacher health insurance plans, changes to principal and teacher evaluations, or changes to testing requirements. Lawmakers are hoping to prioritize the improvement of the quality of life for Tennessee families through this legislation.
There is disagreement between the House and Senate on what should be included in the school voucher bill. GOP Rep. William Lamberth believes that both strengthening the state’s investment in K-12 public schools and focusing on school choice can be achieved in the same bill. The House is looking to expand the existing school voucher program with their $500 million proposal. The division between the House and Senate version of the bill is causing delay in reaching a compromise.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is optimistic about a school choice “revolution” with parental rights as a key issue in the 2024 election. Lawmakers are working to expand the state’s school voucher program beyond students with special needs and those in specific counties. The House and Senate are striving to find a compromise and come to an agreement on the legislation before the current legislative session ends.
The primary goal of the Senate version of the school voucher bill is focused on families, aiming to improve the quality of life for all Tennessee families. Democrat Rep. John Ray Clemmons is expressing concern about the current fiscal mismanagement and the lack of improvement in the quality of life for Tennessee families. The Senate’s version of the bill does not include certain provisions from the House version but prioritizes the implementation of Lee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Act and inter-county school enrollment.
As the House and Senate continue to debate and propose their versions of the school voucher bill, the future of Tennessee’s school choice program remains uncertain. The cost and provisions of the House version versus the Senate version are major points of contention between lawmakers. Gov. Bill Lee is optimistic that lawmakers can come together on a compromise before the end of the legislative session to address the needs of Tennessee families and strengthen the state’s investment in K-12 public schools.
