Vouchers, school safety, retention: Key education issues to watch as Tennessee lawmakers return

Johnny Ellis, left, argues over gun law reform with Covenant School parent Mary Joyce outside the House chamber after a special session of the state legislature on public safety adjourned Aug. 29 in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Johnny Ellis, left, argues over gun law reform with Covenant School parent Mary Joyce outside the House chamber after a special session of the state legislature on public safety adjourned Aug. 29 in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

By Marta W. Aldrich / Chalkbeat Tennessee January 8, 2024 9 min read

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Five years after a bruising legislative battle opened the door to private school vouchers in parts of Tennessee, lawmakers are preparing to take up a controversial bill to create a similar program statewide.

Gov. Bill Lee’s universal voucher proposal, which eventually would make all K-12 students eligible to use public funding to attend a private or home school, is expected to dominate debate after the 113th General Assembly reconvenes Tuesday.

But other issues affecting students and educators are sure to emerge in a state where education reform has been front and center since 2010, when Tennessee won $500 million in the federal Race to the Top competition to jumpstart changes.