How Tennessee's expanded school voucher program would be implemented
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As the Education Freedom Act of 2025 awaits Governor Lee's signature, his office said his team has met with a number of experienced people to learn how other states have implemented universal school choice programs successfully.
In the meantime, 6 News learned what the statewide expansion of school vouchers may look like in Tennessee.
'Nationally 17 states already have education savings accounts. So Tennessee will be our 18th,' said Katherine Schulze, advocacy director for the national nonprofit EdChoice.
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Schulze said EdChoice works with state across the country to advocate for programs like the Education Freedom Act of 2025. In Knoxville, it will provide 20,000 students state-funded scholarships though an education savings account to use at private schools if they choose to.
'The first purchase that needs to be made if a family receives that scholarship is, of course, for tuition to some private school,' said Schulze.
Of the 20,000 total scholarships available, half will be reserved for families with incomes below 300% of the income limit to qualify for reduced school lunches or children with disabilities. Any remaining amount of money can either be saved, or spent towards textbooks, or other educational expenses.
'So this maybe encourages families to, when they're in a elementary setting, save that extra money to help meet the needs of the demand when they're students in high school, but then also that funding can go to something that's more immediate. Instead of just saving, going ahead and putting it towards transportation or some sort of tutoring service,' said Schulze.
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With the scholarship only providing around $7,000, Tennessee Education Association President Tanya Coats said few students will use it.
'What we do know that how it will work is that it's going to go to students that have never attended public schools in the state of Tennessee,' said Coats. 'We know that over 90% of our students that attend public schools, a small number of them will only be able to utilize this universal voucher.'
But based on what they have seen in other states, Schulze said new, cheaper private schools could be on our horizon.
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'If the existing options are maybe out of the price range of the approximately $7,000 each family receives, we'll see new options emerge,' she said. 'That's just a natural part of supply and demand in these markets.'
As far as what the application process may look like, Schulze said it will most likely be through a type of online portal. The Governor's office said they also are working with state and local education departments to explore all options to implement the program.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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