Tennessee bishops welcome ‘landmark’ school choice voucher program

CNA Staff, Feb 4, 2025 / 17:05 pm (CNA).

Tennessee Catholic bishops on Monday lauded the passage of legislation establishing Tennessee’s first-ever universal school choice program, which is set to fund more than 20,000 scholarships to private schools.

Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Act of 2025, which was passed on Jan. 30, will fund 20,000 scholarships, half of which are income-restricted. The passage of the act shortly followed the Trump-Vance administration’s executive order last week instructing federal agencies to expand school choice.

The Education Freedom Act provides $7,000 scholarships to enable students to attend private schools while also increasing funding for public schools. It sets aside bonuses to be awarded to public school teachers for excellence, increases K–12 facilities funding, and the legislation promises that school district funding won’t decrease due to disenrollment.

The Tennessee Catholic Conference applauded the Education Freedom Act in a Feb. 3 statement.

“This landmark legislation reflects our shared commitment to ensuring families that every child, regardless of background, has access to an education that nurtures their potential and supports their families’ unique needs,” the statement read. “In addition to supporting family choice in education, the new law includes provisions to support public schools across the state with significant funding for facility maintenance and expansion as well as financial bonuses for public school teachers.”

The act sets aside nearly $146 million for the Education Freedom Scholarships as well as a little more than $198 million for teacher bonuses. It also sets aside $77 million in funding for K–12 facilities and $2.7 million for administration costs.

The program builds off of a previous pilot program in which Tennessee had expanded school choice via an education savings account pilot program in several counties.

“We thank Gov. Bill Lee for his leadership in the area of family choice in education,” the statement continued. “The education scholarships already in place in Memphis, Chattanooga, and Nashville are making progress educating students looking for opportunities not available in public schools. This new program will make options available across the state.”

The expanded school choice program will kick off in the 2025-2026 school year with 20,000 scholarships available for Tennessee students. Half of the vouchers are set aside for students with disabilities, students who are already eligible for the existing ESA program, and eligible families whose household incomes are under the threshold of $173,000 for a family of four. 

In the 2026-2027 school year, the bill would remove these income restrictions altogether, providing universal eligibility for all Tennessee students, but would prioritize currently enrolled students, low-income students, and public school students. The program will expand to meet demand, adding 5,000 universal eligibility scholarships each year that three-quarters of the available scholarships are awarded. Scholarships are applied to private school tuition and fees first, but the remaining funds may be used for other approved education-related expenses. 

Tennessee Rep. John Ray Clemmons, an outspoken opponent of the act, criticized the program, saying it was designed to “primarily benefit wealthy families.”

But Lee said he believes in increasing access to private schools while improving public schools. 

“I’ve long believed we can have the best public schools and give parents a choice in their child’s education, regardless of income or zip code,” Lee said in a Jan. 30 statement. 

Notably, the act does not require a private school “to alter its creed, practices, admission policies, hiring policies, or curriculum in order to accept recipients” of the scholarships. 

The legislation “does not expand the regulatory authority of this state” to further restrict private schools beyond what is required for the program to function. This is especially important for Catholic schools that often maintain archdiocesan-level requirements for their policies. 

For instance, Catholic preschools in Colorado took legal action after they were unable to participate in Colorado’s Universal Preschool program due to the program’s policy requirements.

The Tennessee Catholic Conference noted that “Catholic schools have long been dedicated to serving the common good by providing an education that values not only academic excellence but also the holistic development of students.” 

“Rooted in faith and guided by the principles of compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity, Catholic schools focus on the needs of students and families, striving to form individuals who will contribute positively to society,” the statement continued.

“The Education Freedom Act aligns with our mission to create an environment where all children can thrive, offering families more flexibility and access to the educational opportunities that best fit their values and aspirations,” the statement read. “We believe this law will help foster a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape, empowering parents to make choices that reflect their children’s needs and supporting schools in their efforts to provide the highest quality of education.”

“As Catholic schools continue to serve Tennessee communities, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the common good, working together with families, educators, and policymakers to ensure a future where every child can succeed in both faith and learning,” the conference concluded.

Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262013/tennessee-bishops-welcome-landmark-school-choice-voucher-program