Governor Bill Lee’s proposed school voucher bill has been declared dead for the year after the House and Senate failed to come to an agreement on testing stipulations. The Senate was fine with how schools administered tests, while the House wanted to see a reduction in end-of-course exams to increase instruction time. Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton emphasized the importance of testing in the bill, causing the negotiations to come to a standstill.
Governor Bill Lee expressed disappointment in the bill not passing this legislative session, saying that families will have to wait another year for the freedom to choose the right education for their child. Despite making progress, it became evident that there was no pathway for the bill during this session. Governor Lee thanked the parents and students who supported the bill and expressed motivation to provide them with the ability to choose the best education for their family in the future.
The original proposal, unveiled in November 2023, aimed to expand the voucher program to all 95 counties in Tennessee, allowing tax money to cover private school tuition. The General Assembly is expected to adjourn the legislative session on Thursday, April 25. Governor Lee emphasized that the bill was about every Tennessee student having the opportunity to succeed, regardless of zip code or income level.
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