Top education officials say they are preparing to implement Tennessee’s newly enacted voucher law a full year ahead of schedule while unveiling key requirements surrounding the program.
Earlier this year, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed off on legislation that diverts tax dollars to private education and allows participating families to receive debit cards up to $7,300 in state education money each year. Known as education savings accounts, the program would apply only to the state’s largest school districts – Nashville metro and Shelby County, the areas with the lowest performing schools.
Lee has since expressed support of implementing the program ahead of the originally scheduled 2021-2022 school year and then instructed the education department to ensure the voucher expansion would be ready by next year. However, funding for the program has not yet been secured.
