A former Tennessee legislator addressed concerns at a GOP club over a new law that will give some families state taxpayer funding to pay for private school tuition.
The Education Freedom Act, signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee this month, will give up to 20,000 students about $7,300 each in public funding to enroll in private schools, starting in the fall. The legislation will extend statewide a pilot program that has been operating in three counties, Hamilton, Davidson and Shelby.
(READ MORE: Here’s what 7 Hamilton County lawmakers have said about private school tuition grants)
Half of the grants will be reserved for students with disabilities, students eligible for the pilot program and families at or below 300% of the income limit to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches — about $175,000 for a family of four. Those requirements will be lifted after the first year.
While a similar program already exists for low-income students in Hamilton County, the statewide legislation is expected to allow the parents or guardians of the thousands of students zoned for one of Southeast Tennessee’s other school districts to get public funds to send their child to private school. The change in income limits would also greatly increase the number of eligible Hamilton County students.