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Tennessee Gov. Lee thinks there is money to expand private school tuition grants

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Cooke Jar employee Nicole Cabe, right, names the cakes for sale to Gov. Bill Lee, as fellow employee Mia Barker looks on. Lee visited the Cookie Jar Cafe, In Dunlap, Tenn., to promote America 250, which is the recognition of the nation's 250th anniversary.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Cooke Jar employee Nicole Cabe, right, names the cakes for sale to Gov. Bill Lee, as fellow employee Mia Barker looks on. Lee visited the Cookie Jar Cafe, In Dunlap, Tenn., to promote America 250, which is the recognition of the nation's 250th anniversary. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Cooke Jar employee Nicole Cabe, right, names the cakes for sale to Gov. Bill Lee, as fellow employee Mia Barker looks on. Lee visited the Cookie Jar Cafe, In Dunlap, Tenn., to promote America 250, which is the recognition of the nation's 250th anniversary.

By Ruby Rayner 4 min read

Gov. Bill Lee doubled down on his desire to expand the state-funded private school tuition grant program during a visit to the Cookie Jar Cafe in Dunlap on Wednesday as part of his yearlong celebration for America’s 250th anniversary.

Lee said state revenues will determine the ability to expand the program and funding to public schools, but he believes the state will be able to do both.

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Demand for the Education Freedom Scholarship program is the reason it ought to be expanded this year, Lee said in front of the mountainous backdrop of Sequatchie County.

Lee, who signed the program into law in February, said there is not yet a lot of data attached to the program, which has awarded 20,000 Tennessee families $7,295 in public funding to enroll their children in private schools. However, what is known is that the program has a demand.