Despite a growing price tag and the reality that school vouchers so far are essentially providing private school discount coupons to wealthy families, the GOP Supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly has approved a significant expansion of the state’s school voucher scheme.
The plan would increase the number of vouchers available from 20,000 to 35,000 effective in the 2026-27 academic year. The cost of the expanded program is expected to be $262 million.
Chalkbeat reports:
Tennessee will expand its universal voucher program to 35,000 students next school year despite bipartisan opposition to the program over its growing price tag and changes to the funding assurances made to public school districts last year.
A slim majority of Tennessee Senate Republicans signed off on the legislation on Thursday. The bill will go to Gov. Bill Lee to be signed into law.
While the Senate initially sought to expand the program to 40,000 seats, the chamber agreed to move forward with a House version for 35,000 students.
