NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Now that Governor Bill Lee’s school voucher bill has passed, parents have questions about how it’ll work.
The “Tennessee Education Freedom Act” is waiting for the governor’s signature, then the majority of the bill will become law immediately.
There were high emotions this week at the State Capitol. Those on both sides of the issue made their case for and against school vouchers.
“People care a lot about this issue, whatever side they follow on, there is a lot of passion on this,” Governor Lee said.
On Thursday, the proposed legislation passed in both the House and Senate after a four-day special session.
According to the terms of the bill, 20,000 total “scholarships” would be available. Parents in Tennessee can receive about $7,000 in public taxpayer money to send their children to a private school if they so choose.
Half of those scholarships will have an income limit.
“I can’t overstate how frustrating it is…that someone’s priority is to destroy public education,” said Rep. John Ray Clemmons, (D-Nashville).
“There is disagreement on this, I respect the members who haven’t agreed with us on this,” Governor Lee said.
In Wilson County, leaders on both sides of the aisle made it very clear they were against school vouchers. Both the Wilson County school board and county commissioners signed separate resolutions against it.
“This is the single most unifying issue in this community I’ve seen,” Jamie Farough, Wilson County School board member said during a recent school board meeting.
Earlier this month, the Wilson County school board held a public meeting with their state representatives to address their concerns. Despite the pushback, all three lawmakers voted for the bill.
“And now Tennessee is in a position where every single family can make the decision for their child,” said Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), Speaker of the House.
But how soon can families make that decision? News 2 asked the governor that very question after the bill passed.
“I can’t speak on the details of that implementation, and we are already preparing in hopes this would happen today so we can have students enrolled in this school year,” Lee said.
News 2 reached out to the Tennessee State Board of Education and asked when can parents begin applying for the program and what the application process looks like.
In a statement, they wrote: “We are working diligently to launch this program and provide access to Tennessee families when the law becomes effective once it is signed by the Governor. The first step in implementing the law is to promulgate rules to further elaborate the requirements of the law and program. The program will be ready to launch in time for students to enroll for the 2025-26 school year. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Please see current scholarship programs that are available to eligible TN families: Education Savings Account program and the Individualized Education Account program.”
