Mark it down.
By the time the Tennessee General Assembly folds its tents this spring, the session will become known for something other than what you’ll read about here today. It may be a bill not yet filed, an issue that doesn’t bubble up until later, a personnel matter, or an incident away from the legislature (like last year’s Covenant School shooting) that affects what happens within the state house.
But you’ll also be hearing about what’s below, issues we know will be talked about. Gov. Bill Lee’s education scholarship expansion proposal will draw a lot of talk, as will the usual hot topics of crime, guns and abortion.
› Perhaps the most controversial issue is the education scholarships, packaged in what the governor is now calling the Education Freedom Scholarship Act. They would build on the 2019 law (expanded in 2023) that allows for scholarships for qualified students to use state funds to attend qualified private schools in Davidson, Hamilton and Shelby counties. The scholarships would be available for 20,000 students in the 2024-2025 academic year and then universally in the following years.
While we fully believe in more education choices for students, we have repeatedly said we prefer the original scholarship program to continue as the pilot program it began as, with evaluation after a certain number of years to determine if the scholarships are truly making a difference for qualified students. If they are, then, yes, gradually expand them. If they’re not, figure out why not before moving forward.