Lee Says No Timeline Set For School Choice Voucher Initiative
Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
After receiving the news that the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in his favor, Governor Bill Lee says he still does not have a set timeline for the initial start of his long-awaited school voucher program.
Lee noted the “good first step” in the Supreme Court’s decision that the voucher initiative is not a violation of the “home rule” in the state’s Constitution. That decision aligned with earlier decisions from lower courts.
Legal issues have kept the program in limbo since its passage in 2019. The “home rule” says that legislators cannot pass any measures that target individual counties. Because the voucher program currently applies only to Nashville and Shelby County schools, the areas with the lowest performing schools in the state, the two counties brought a lawsuit against the initiative.
Even with the High Court’s recent decision, Lee says the are still “legal decisions yet to be made” and “a lot of steps that have to come to fruition” before they can put the voucher program into full effect.
“Once we determine the speed with which the court will make its final decisions, then we can move forward with the particulars to make sure this works and fits, and how it is that we roll it out,” Lee said.
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According to Samantha Fisher, spokesperson for Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery, the court is no longer stopping the program from moving forward because the injunction was based on the home rule argument. However, she notes that the attorney general says it is necessary for some additional court proceedings to take place, although the current Supreme Court ruling is “a major step forward.”
The initiative is now headed back to a lower court to face additional legal obstacles, including the claim that the program is a violation of educational and equal protections provided through the state Constitution. The Tennessee chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says the plaintiffs in one of the lawsuits “intend to continue to vigorously pursue” their challenge to the program. Nashville Mayor John Cooper has also been vocal about his promise to fight the voucher program.
Governor Randy McNally gave his support to the court’s decision.
“It is critically important parents have as many choices as possible in educating their children. I am confident the state will continue winning in the courts on this legislation and that parents and students will soon be able to access this much-needed program.” McNally stated.
Following the passage of the new K-12 school funding formula, Lee noted that the state would have to figure out just how the voucher program will work within that update. The new funding formula does not go into effect until the 2023-2024 school year, but there is a $29 million allotment in the upcoming year’s budget for the voucher initiative.
Responding to a question as to whether the voucher system might be started for the upcoming fall school year, Lee responded, “There are a lot of steps that have to come to fruition before that could happen, but we certainly are hopeful that that can happen.”
The voucher program, referred to as “education savings accounts,” would give eligible families in Tennessee access to up to $7,000 in tax money to use for private school tuition and other expenses. It was anticipated that 5,000 students would be covered in the first year, and the program would allow for up to 15,000 students by year five.
Many Tennessee residents are anxious to see the program go into effect.
One Tennessee Conservative reader commented, “Davidson and Shelby Counties are the absolute proof that the money spent per student has no bearing on the quality of their education…I strongly support the voucher system, wish it was better funded…either do a better job of educating or don’t cry because your toys are taken away.”
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
