Join Chalkbeat Tennessee’s free day by day publication to maintain up with statewide training coverage and Memphis-Shelby County Colleges.
Seven months after Gov. Invoice Lee’s first common college voucher invoice died over disagreements throughout the legislature’s Republican supermajority, GOP leaders had been unified as they launched new laws Wednesday.
Home and Senate majority leaders William Lamberth and Jack Johnson filed equivalent payments to create Training Freedom Scholarships giving $7,075 every in public funding for a non-public training for as much as 20,000 college students, starting subsequent fall.
Recipients in grades 3-11 could be required to take a nationwide or state standardized achievement take a look at to trace this system’s effectiveness.
In an effort to garner assist amongst public college advocates, the proposal requires giving each public college trainer in Tennessee a one-time $2,000 bonus. It additionally would direct 80% of tax revenues from Tennessee’s new sports activities betting business towards native college constructing prices, particularly for emergency wants and for 38 rural counties designated as distressed or in danger.
In an announcement, the governor mentioned he seems to be ahead to delivering on his promise for extra training decisions for fogeys.
“For greater than a yr, I’ve labored in partnership with the Basic Meeting to introduce a unified college selection plan that empowers dad and mom in the case of their baby’s training and additional invests in Tennessee’s public colleges and academics,” Lee mentioned.
Each Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Home Speaker Cameron Sexton issued statements of assist.
The payments had been the primary laws launched for the following Basic Meeting to think about when it convenes Jan. 14, signaling the governor’s intention to make the difficulty his high legislative precedence for a second straight yr.
The proposal arrived at some point after pivotal elections by which vouchers had been a problem in quite a few legislative races throughout Tennessee, plus on the poll in different states. Republicans retained their grip on each of Tennessee’s legislative chambers, whereas voters in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska rejected measures that might have steered public {dollars} towards non-public colleges.
Lee is anticipated to talk later Wednesday with reporters about his newest plan, together with whether or not he intends to name a particular session in January to focus completely on it.
The governor efficiently pushed for a 2019 legislation to create a smaller voucher program in Nashville and Memphis, which has since expanded to Chattanooga. The state comptroller’s first report on that “pilot” program’s effectiveness is due Jan. 1, 2026.
It is a growing story. Verify again for updates.
