Tennessee lawmakers weigh in on new school voucher bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A new bill filed Wednesday is reigniting a fiery debate over school vouchers in Tennessee.

The Education Freedom Scholarship Act would create 20,000 scholarships worth around $7,000 each and funded through taxpayer money to send qualifying Tennessee students to private schools and other options if their parents choose. Half of the scholarships would be reserved for students whose household income does not exceed 300% of the amount required for the student to qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

"As a legislator in the General Assembly, it is our job to make sure all kids get a good education and not be handcuffed, so to speak, if that's a parent's choice or a parent's issue by the zip code that they live in," Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) said.

School vouchers have been a primary focus for Governor Bill Lee, especially after his previous attempt to establish a universal school voucher program failed last legislative session. Lee called this new version of the proposed legislation "a unified school choice plan that empowers parents when it comes to their child's education and further invests in Tennessee’s public schools and teachers,” in a statement Wednesday.

The proposed legislation also includes provisions aimed at drawing in those on the other side of the aisle, including one-time, $2,000 bonuses for teachers if the money is included in the next budget, and reallocating 80% of the privilege tax generated from sports betting in the state toward maintaining and building public schools.

In addition, the bill promises that public schools would not lose funding based on student enrollment numbers if and when a student leaves the public school to go to a private school on a voucher.

"Why not give parents the ability to potentially have another choice?" Rep. Garrett said.

Democrats aren't biting, and Democratic Caucus Chair, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, doesn't buy the promise that public schools won't suffer from the implementation of a universal school voucher program.

"They designed the entire Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funding formula around the money following the student when they leave the public schools system," Clemmons said. "That was the reason they passed it, was to pave the way for their voucher scam and their privatization schemes, so the fact that they're trying to argue they're not going to take the money out of those public schools? Are they going to rewrite the entire TISA program? How is that going to work? It seems to me just another ornament they're trying to hang on a dead tree here."

Rep. Garrett argued legislators wouldn't have to change the TISA program if the bill passed, because the promise that public schools could keep funding would be codified into law.

"I wouldn't be so supportive of this initiative if it did take away from the strength of our public schools system," Rep. Garrett said. "I'm here in Sumner County. We have great public schools, we have some great leaders that run our public schools here, and I wouldn't dream of trying to take anything away from those students. I don't believe it will."

However, Clemmons called the bill an "attack" on public schools, and questioned why teacher bonuses and building improvements for public schools had to be tied to school voucher legislation, rather than be addressed on their own.

"Most of us ran for office purely to build better schools, to build better roads, to get people access to healthcare. These core things are the reasons most of us ran for office. The fact that he would take some of those and stick them in a voucher scam is offensive," Rep. Clemmons said. "We have the money to give teachers bonuses, we have the money to build better public schools, so why aren't we doing that without tying it to a voucher scam that's ultimately designed to pull money out of public schools?"

Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis), chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, also voiced her opposition to the proposed legislation in the following statement:

“Once again, Tennessee Republicans are pushing an expansion of their failed private school voucher scheme. This isn’t about improving education; it’s about diverting public dollars away from underfunded public schools to private institutions that are unaccountable to taxpayers and don’t serve every student. Vouchers are a scam — they aren’t working to improve student outcomes here in Tennessee, nor have they succeeded at this scale anywhere else in the country."

"The economics of this plan simply don’t make sense. Wherever universal voucher programs have been implemented, they’ve led to runaway spending, benefiting a few at the expense of our neighborhood schools. Instead of funneling taxpayer money into unproven programs, we should be focusing on strengthening our public schools so they can serve every child, in every community, with the resources and accountability they deserve."

"The legislature should reject this misguided proposal and work on real solutions that empower all students to succeed.”

Republican leaders issued the following statements:

“As we continue to invest in public education, nearly doubling the amount of state funding over the last decade, parents and families deserve the freedom to use their hard-earned tax dollars to provide the best opportunity for their children to achieve,” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. “Families should not be limited by their zip code, failing school system or their income. Giving parents the ability to choose for their child will provide more opportunities and reduce poverty throughout our state. Increased competition for a student’s enrollment will make schools, school systems, and administrators meet the need for a higher quality of education.”

“School choice is a critical piece of the education puzzle,” said Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge. “Expanding options for parents will ensure choice, not geography, determines student success. I am grateful for Governor Lee's leadership on this issue and look forward to working through the details of this legislation with my fellow legislators in the coming year.”

“We have made incredible progress to improve education opportunities for Tennessee children, and we are not done,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin. “This important initiative is the next step in advancing our student-centered approach by empowering parents to make the best decisions for their individual children, regardless of their zip code.  The legislation is backed by many years of work. After countless hours of conversations with parents, teachers, administrators and other stakeholders on the best path forward, this bill strikes the right balance. It allows parents to use their tax dollars for private school alternatives, while maintaining accountability and supporting our public school teachers. I look forward to the General Assembly considering and ultimately passing this legislation when we convene in January.”

“This legislation leaves no stone unturned when it comes to providing the very best educational path to set the next generation up for success,” said House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland. “Public schools are the foundation of our educational system, and they’ll continue to be the option of choice for most families. This bill empowers parents – not the government – to make decisions about the unique needs and diverse interests of their children. Our students deserve no less.”