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.

Source

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.

Read the full article

The post When can parents begin applying? appeared first on www.wkrn.com

SUMMARY: During Tennessee’s special legislative session, lawmakers approved $470 million in relief for those affected by Hurricane Helene, which killed 18 people and destroyed 500 homes in northeast Tennessee. The funding includes $240 million for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, $110 million for interest on loans, and $100 million for recovery efforts. Carter County will receive $20 million for rebuilding a high school. Additionally, property tax breaks totaling $4.6 million were approved for storm-affected counties. The session also addressed school choice expansion and immigration laws, with some controversy over these topics.

Read the full article

The post Helene: Appropriation of $470M in relief made in special session | Tennessee appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com