Image: House bill sponsor William Lamberth presents the school voucher bill to the House Special Session Education Committee Image Credit: Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Governor Lee’s pet project, aka The Education Freedom Act of 2025, blew through four House committees during the Extraordinary Session yesterday with very few Republicans in opposition.
Starting in the House Special Session Education Committee, Committee Chair Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka-District 64) told everyone in attendance that it was the job of the legislators present “to listen and make an informed decision” about House Bill 6004 (HB6004) and to “do what is best for the people of Tennessee.”
Minutes before the meeting was set to start, Representative Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69) posted on X that an 11-page amendment “largely rewriting” the bill was dropped by Cepicky just two hours before the committee met to debate the legislation.
As reported by the Tennessee Firefly, Barrett, who reviewed the language of the bill and its fiscal analysis, wrote to Governor Bill Lee and House Republican Leader and Prime Sponsor William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44) on Monday to tell them that he was a firm no and could not support the legislation.
Barrett, who will serve on the House Education Committee in the regular legislative session set to resume after the special session has wrapped by the end of this week, was removed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) for the week, along with half of the committee’s regular members.
Even the Committee Chair, Representative Mark White (R-Memphis-District 83) was switched out for Cepicky who led the charge last year in an effort to get Lee’s plan passed.
The amendment, which passed on a voice vote, outlines that 80 percent of sports betting revenue would be diverted from the HOPE scholarship for higher education and set aside in a fund for the construction and maintenance of public school buildings.
Lamberth insisted that if HOPE was ever at risk of running a deficit, that the priority is to fund HOPE first.
LEAs that meet certain guidelines would be able to apply for funds on a first come first served basis amounting to $25 per enrolled student. These LEAs would have to be located in a Tennessee county designated as economically distressed or at-risk, have received an “A” letter grade for the 2023-2024 school year or subsequent school year, or be eligible for a fast-growth stipend.
If any further funds remain, the money would go to LEAs that have sustained major damage to school facilities due to emergencies or natural disasters. Disbursements of no less than 15 percent of any remaining funds would be released in the order in which the state treasurer receives completed applications.
Should an LEA not complete a project milestone or abandons a project altogether, then any unused funds would be required to be returned.
The promised $2,000 bonus per teacher is also outlined in the amendment with a provision that local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies must submit a resolution by June 1st stating that they wish to receive the funding.
With several school boards having passed resolutions lately in opposition to the Governor’s school choice plan, it is of note that they do not have to approve of the legislation in order to receive the money for their teachers as Lamberth acknowledged in the Finance, Ways & Means Committee later in the day.
According to the amendment, as a condition of receiving a “scholarship,” students in 3rd through 11th grade must take a nationally standardized achievement test or the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests for Math and English Language Arts.
The baseline dollar amount of each scholarship is $7,000. The legislation proposes creating “opportunity” for 20,000 students for the 2025-2026 school year, even though the majority of recipients will be students who are already attending private schools.
Half of that number will be made available to families whose income does not exceed 300 percent of the amount to qualify for free and reduced lunch – a family of four with a household income of less than $173,000 for example. The remaining 10,000 applications would not be income dependent.
Next year, the number of spots could increase if legislators approve, the amount would also go up to $8,750. The average annual tuition for private school in Tennessee is over $11,000.
Most of the money to fund Lee’s version of school choice will come from the state’s general fund, starting at $347 million. $144 million was set aside for a voucher program last year and remains unspent.
Lamberth declared unequivocally that there is “no money coming from public schools at all” in order to fund the scholarships, and also stated that “no public school loses one red cent due to this bill.”
The House Majority leader insisted that public school districts will not lose money over students who disenroll, saying that Tennessee’s school choice plan was different from what has been tried around the country so far.
After two guests who spoke in opposition to the bill, and six who spoke in favor, including a spokesperson from Lee’s office, Representative Jake McCalmon (R-Franklin-District 63) abruptly made a motion to put an end to any further questions which was quickly seconded despite consternation from some lawmakers.
A roll call vote quickly followed with the bill passing out of House Education with 17 ayes and 7 noes.
Only two Republicans voted against HB6004. Representatives David Hawk (R-Greeneville-District 5) and Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland-District 24).
When asked about his vote, Rep. Hawk told The Tennessee Conservative, “My vote reflects the thoughts of the majority of people with whom I’ve discussed the issue, who reside in Greene County. Additionally, the legislative governing body in Greene County voted to oppose the legislation 19-1.”
Rep. Raper told The Tennessee Conservative, “I serve District 24 , they do not serve me. Almost every correspondence has been in opposition to the voucher bill. Additionally, both School Board’s along the County Commission have written resolutions against vouchers. This opposition created my vote against.”
The bill then went swiftly to the Special Session Government Operations Committee where it passed 17 to 5.
HB6004 then went onto the Special Session Finance, Ways & Means Committee later in the afternoon where it passed 21 to 6 and finally to the Special Session Calendar & Rules Committee where it passed on a voice vote and is now scheduled for Thursday’s regular calendar where it will go to the House floor for a vote.
4 Responses
21 new amendments have been introduced, not voted on yet that I see. Sheesh! Although Amendment HA6007 was quite funny! “This part is known and may be cited as the “Governor Bill Lee Private School Voucher Bribery Scam Subsidy Act.” ANy of these amendments could kill the bill, but all except 1 were introduced by democrats, so it’s unlikely any of them will make the bill.
Good coverage Paula.
“…students in 3rd through 11th grade must take a nationally standardized achievement test or the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP)…”
The public schools should be taking nationally-normed tests and not hiding in their TCAP bubble. This is revealed when NAEP assessments are made and apples to apples comparisons can be made nationwide.
“The average annual tuition for private school in Tennessee is over $11,000.”
A bargain. Average “free public school” cost is over $12,000 per year and academic proficiency is in the 40s.
CRIMINAL!!
The Republicans spend money like Dems – $500 million for the Titans stadium, $500 million for TN Performing Arts, and now this.