by Madeleine Nolan – WZTV – Fox 17 News – Nashville, TN
John Ray Clemmons (D) (Photo: FOX 17 News)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A heated debate is unfolding at the Tennessee Capitol over Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to double the state’s Education Freedom Scholarship program, often referred to as school vouchers.
The program uses state funds to help families pay for private school tuition. Currently capped at 20,000 students, Lee is proposing to expand it by another 20,000 scholarships this year.
Republican leaders say the expansion is about giving parents more control over their children’s education.
“At the end the day it is either you believe the parents have the best decision or the best ability to make the best decisions for their child,” said Cameron Sexton during a House Republican press conference.
Supporters argue demand is clear, pointing to tens of thousands of applications submitted when the program first opened.
But Democrats say the state is moving too quickly, without enough public data to show whether the program is improving student outcomes or primarily benefiting families already enrolled in private schools.
“Here we go, we want to double the program, and we have no data to support that we’re benefiting anyone’s educational experience,” said John Ray Clemmons, a House Representative representing West Nashville.
Some Senate Republicans pushed back on calls for additional reporting requirements, saying parents already receive academic information and are the best judges of success.
“The most important metric that we do measure is parental satisfaction with the program. And it’s very, very high, near close to 100 percent,” said Jack Johnson, the Senate Majority Leader.
JC Bowman, CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee, says school choice may be popular, but accountability should be too.
“Once you start taking vouchers, you have left the private arena and become a public entity we need to make sure that we’re getting value for those dollars,” Bowman said.
Bowman is proposing what he calls a “sliding scale” of accountability. His plan would require private schools accepting voucher students to undergo financial audits and have students participate in standardized testing, with results reported in aggregate form.
Critics of expansion also warn that Tennessee’s state revenues are beginning to soften following the winter storm and broader economic slowdown. They argue adding roughly $155 million to the program this year could create budget pressure if revenue projections fall short.
Republican leaders maintain the scholarship expansion is a priority and say public schools will continue receiving the vast majority of K-12 funding.
The bill is expected to move quickly through the committee in the coming weeks.
Governor Lee’s office has been contacted for comment on concerns about transparency and accountability.
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