As the Tennessee General Assembly starts what is expected to be the final week of this year’s legislative session, Gov. Bill Lee is admitting defeat on his universal voucher program. Even so, we’ll likely see continued efforts to expand voucher availability moving forward.
“I am extremely disappointed for the families who will have to wait yet another year for the freedom to choose the right education for their child, especially when there is broad agreement that now is the time to bring universal school choice to Tennessee,” says Lee in a statement. “While we made tremendous progress, unfortunately it has become clear that there is not a pathway for the bill during this legislative session.”
Through the universal voucher program (titled the Education Freedom Scholarship Act), students across the state would have received public funds to put toward a private education. Lee launched the similar Education Savings Account pilot program through the legislature in 2019 — though it was held up in court for two years before becoming available to students in Memphis, Nashville and eventually Chattanooga. Lee announced his plan to usher in a universal voucher system in November during a press event at the Tennessee State Museum. He was joined by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who successfully shepherded a similar program in her state.
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Getting lawmakers to agree on how to create such a program, however, proved to be an impossible task in this year’s legislative session. Three different versions of the bill were introduced — two from the Senate and one from the House. One Senate amendment ensured testing requirements for students receiving vouchers and provided the ability to use vouchers to attend public schools in other districts. The House’s massive version included sweeping changes to the public education system, including decreased testing requirements for students, fewer evaluations for teachers and an increased share of teacher health insurance costs covered by the state. Each had drastically different costs attached to them — the House’s was the most expensive, with a price tag approaching $400 million. Despite strong pushes from key lawmakers, school leaders from across Tennessee spoke out against the legislation, and it had critics from both parties within the legislature.
Lee signaled that, despite the failure of his pet project this year, he anticipates continued efforts aimed at expanding school vouchers in Tennessee.
“I also want to thank the speakers and leaders of both chambers for their commitment to pursuing education freedom next year,” reads Lee’s release.
