Some counties left out as private schools start showing interest in Tennessee's voucher program
According to a new webpage on the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship program, 192 private schools have submitted an interest form so far, which is more than half of all eligible schools. However, those private schools are located in just 35 out of Tennessee's 95 counties. Twenty of the 35 counties have just one or two private schools listed.
Social media safety could be taught in Tennessee schools
The Education Freedom Scholarship Act passed during a special legislative session this Jan. Democrats and some Republicans opposed to the measure were concerned students from rural counties wouldn't benefit from the program due to the lack of private schools in those areas. The measure's fiscal note estimated 12 of the state's counties would receive the majority of the 20,000 vouchers.
'I have one little private school that started up this year. I think it has eight students. It's a K-3 school and it has eight students, and I think next year they're hoping to get to about 30 students,' Rep. Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill), who voted against the measure, said. 'It's not good for my district. That's the only private school we have.'
However, pro-voucher Republicans argued counties that don't have a private school likely border one that does, so those students could still take advantage of the vouchers.
While private schools still have time to express their interest in the program, numerous counties in Tennessee don't have a private school at all.
In addition, Dr. Kevin Cline, headmaster of an East Tennessee private school currently on the voucher program interest list, previously told News 2 that the measure still increases options for many parents, even if it doesn't for all.
'Everything the state does does not impact every resident,' Cline said. 'The Titans stadium is doing great, right? They're building it; it's huge. It's big time. My tax dollars have helped support that, but I'm four hours away, so that's not really going to help me much. I'm not going to get to utilize the stadium. That's part of pouring into a system as a state.'
Families can begin to apply for the Education Freedom Scholarships this spring on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the state's website. For more information, follow this link.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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