SUMMARY: The Tennessee Education Freedom Act, which provides school vouchers for 20,000 students, passed recently and is awaiting Governor Lee’s signature. Under this bill, eligible families can receive approximately $7,000 to attend private schools, with half of the scholarships subject to income limits. The legislation has sparked passionate reactions from both supporters and opponents, particularly in Wilson County, where local leaders expressed strong opposition. Despite community pushback, all three local lawmakers voted for the bill. The Department of Education is already preparing for implementation, allowing families to enroll students for the upcoming school year.

Now that the governor’s school voucher bill has passed, parents have questions about how it’ll work.

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SUMMARY: Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee’s school voucher bill, the “Tennessee Education Freedom Act,” has passed and is awaiting his signature. The bill will provide 20,000 scholarships, offering $7,000 to parents for private school tuition, with half having income limits. The bill passed after intense debate during a special four-day session, with strong opinions on both sides. Some local leaders, like those in Wilson County, opposed the vouchers, but state lawmakers supported the bill. Implementation details are still being finalized, with families expected to be able to apply for the program by the 2025-26 school year.

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SUMMARY: In 2025, Middle Tennessee will see significant educational changes following Governor Bill Lee’s victory in passing the Education Freedom Act during a special legislative session. This act allocates state funds for 20,000 private school scholarships and offers a $2,000 bonus to teachers. However, the Tennessee Education Association criticizes the voucher plan, warning it could harm public schools and lead to rural school closures. Additionally, lawmakers approved $470 million for recovery efforts after last year’s deadly storms and established a new immigration enforcement division, provoking backlash from local officials who pledge to contest these measures in court.

Immigration, voucher bills passed in Tennessee

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