by Jakai SpikesTue, January 14th 2025 at 9:32 PM
Updated Tue, January 14th 2025 at 11:03 PM
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is expected to call a special session soon that will address a push to expand the state’s school voucher program.
Tuesday a group organized an event in Chattanooga for those who wish to speak out against the bill.
Image: WTVC
Concerns have already been raised that the bill lacks accountability and would hurt public schools.
Although others argue it would allow students the option to “maximize their educational journey.”
“We think it’s going to be a very close. Will everybody vote the way they said they will vote? We’re going to find out.”
Members of the Public School Strong TN held a rally in Chattanooga, hoping to encourage leadership to reject Gov. Lee’s voucher bill.
Image: WTVC
But not all Tennesseans feel the same way.
“A lot of people that maybe are for this bill seek an opportunity and feel that their top their dollars should be utilized in the way in which they choose. And once again, I don’t disagree with that,” Karitsa Jones says.
But for those that are against it…
“We don’t want public dollars, public tax dollars, going to private schools,” Ben Connor says.
Heidi King, a spokesperson for Public School Strong TN, explained why we saw signs calling the bill a “scam or bribe.”
Image: WTVC
“I feel like it is promoting that a private school is better than public school, and so it’s giving this false hope about what is available to students.”
King says that the reality is…
“It’s taking money from our public schools. It is a bribe.”
Hamilton County School Board member Ben Connor says there are other gaps in the bill to be concerned about…
“The private schools don’t have to follow the federal guidelines that we have, or even the state guidelines. So they have the ability to kick out a child after taking the voucher.”
Last week, Senator Dr. John Adam Lowe told us that the governor’s plan requires private schools to take the same standardized testing as public schools, and that there’s a hold harmless provision in the bill.
