House K-12 Subcommittee To Consider Expansion Of School Choice Program
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
The House K-12 subcommittee is set to consider a bill that would further the opportunity for Tennessee parents to exercise choice in the way their children are educated by allowing them to use state funds to pay for their preferred schooling option. The bill is currently on their calendar for March 8.
House Bill 2861 was introduced in early February by Representative Michael G. Curcio (R-Dickson-District 69). The bill would add additional alternatives for students to qualify to participate in the Tennessee Education Savings Account program.
The program currently requires that students meet the following qualifications to be eligible:
- Be zoned to attend a school in an LEA, excluding the Achievement School District, with 10 or more schools:
- Identified as priority schools in 2015;
- Among the bottom 10% of schools; and
- Identified as priority schools in 2018; OR
- Be zoned to attend a school that is in the Achievement School District.
HB2861 would expand those eligibility requirements to allow students who are “zoned for a school in an LEA that, during the three-year period immediately preceding September 1, 2025, or thereafter, did not offer students 180 days of in-person learning for a school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
It will also make adjustments to how the cost differential is handled in the program.
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The bill would amend TCA Section 49-3-307 (a)(4) and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 26.
Note from the Tennessee Conservative: Just a reminder that many good Conservative bills die in subcommittees and committees before they ever see the light of day on the House or Senate floor.
If you support this bill, contact the subcommittee members in advance of their meeting. The contact information for the Republican members (who hold the super-majority vote) can be found below.
House K-12 Subcommittee – Republican Members:
Kirk Haston (chair) – rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0750
Michele Carringer – rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1721
Glen Casada – rep.glen.casada@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4389
Scott Cepicky – rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3005
Chris Hurt – rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2134
John D. Ragan – rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4400
Mark White – rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4415
Companion Senate Bill 2778, introduced by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville-District 9), has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
