by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Discussion about the Teneessee Legislature’s approval of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act weighed heavy on disappointment at the Franklin County School Board Feb. 4 meeting. In a Jan. 27 Special Session vote on the voucher-like program, the House voted 54 in favor, 44 against; the Senate voted 20 in favor, 13 against. Senator Janice Bowling voted against the bill. Representative Iris Rudder voted in favor of the bill which, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, will award scholarships to pay students’ tuition at private schools.

Rudder also voted against or to table amendments that addressed critics’ concerns about the bill. She voted to table an amendment that would have subjected scholarship recipients to the same TCAP testing used in public schools and to table an amendment that would have required private schools receiving scholarship funds to follow the same rules as public schools for age-appropriate materials, teacher certification and academic standards set by the state board of education. On an amendment that went to the floor for a vote, Rudder voted, no. The amendment that would have provided protections for students with disabilities by stipulating, “a private school shall not discriminate against a student participating in the program based on the student’s disability.”

“If a special ed student with an IEP [Individualized Education Program] leaves us to receive this voucher, the IEP does not go with them,” said Board Vice Chair Lance Williams, pointing out private schools were under no obligation to address the needs of special ed students.

“Kudos to Senator Bowling for supporting us,” said Board Chair CleiJo Walker. “She was one of six republicans in the senate that voted against the bill.”

Board member Sara Liechty contacted Senator Bowling and provided her with information on the bill and similar programs in other states. Leichty spoke with congresspersons in neighboring districts, as well, one who expressed concern about “what a monster this could grow into.” The 20,000 scholarships provided in the first year will cost over $400 million. Half the scholarships will go to students who are not required to demonstrate financial need. Liechty received no response when she attempted to contact Rudder. “There was no discussion,” Liechty said.

An amendment to the bill, which did pass, provides a one-time $2,000 payment to teachers to offset the anticipated loss of state funds due to decreased enrollment. “There is nothing for support staff,” stressed Walker. Nor does the amendment provide supplemental funding for administrators, supervisors, instructional coaches, and counselors, pointed out Director of Schools Cary Holman

To get the $2,000, the board must pass a resolution that the LEA [Local Education Agency] would like to participate,” Walker observed. Liechty argued, as a result of the requirement, “misinformation will appear in the headlines, what I call lying by omission,” suggesting local school boards supported the Freedom Scholarship Act initiative.

On the horizon is another new bill under consideration by the legislature, “Say, Yes, to Recess.” “What the ‘yes recess’ bill is proposing is wanting children to have 90 minutes of recess and reduce reading to a minimum,” Holman explained. “We were told to do that a couple years ago,” said board member Sandy Schultz, a former teacher and principal. “We couldn’t do it, get 90 minutes in, and still have time for class.”

“What he [bill sponsor Rep. Scott Cepicky] is not realizing is for children that need tier three supports, wanting them to play more and read less will produce a report card that says they’re failing,” insisted Holman. Significantly, the “Say, Yes, to Recess” bill also calls for reducing testing.