Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed school voucher bill has been declared dead after lawmakers were unable to come to an agreement on certain stipulations. The bill, which would have provided families with funds to choose private education for their children, was met with opposition from those concerned about the impact on public schools. Despite Gov. Lee’s disappointment, the bill faced challenges from the outset, with the House and Senate unable to agree on the voucher language. The plan, which would have allocated around $7,000 per year to families opting out of the public school system, lacked details and accountability. The $144 million allocated for the program will now sit unused until new legislation is introduced in 2025. Public school boards, House Republicans, and Democrats all raised concerns about the plan throughout the legislative session. While Gov. Lee expressed his commitment to providing parents with education choice, the lack of agreement among lawmakers ultimately led to the demise of the voucher bill. Despite this setback, advocates for school choice remain hopeful for future opportunities to bring universal school choice to Tennessee.
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Negotiations on stipulations for school voucher bill fail, leading to its demise
