They argue the program drains money from public schools at a time when districts are already cutting staff, trimming transportation and reworking special education services.
Boehm says the impact is already felt locally. She points to recent cuts in Hamilton County, including the elimination of magnet school transportation and staff reductions across multiple campuses.
A Tennessee Republican who stood up for public education in the state legislature paid the price, as a conservative political action group backing Matt Van Epps attacked him with millions of dollars in advertising.
Barrett was attacked because he voted against Governor Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Act – also called vouchers.
State Representative Jody Barrett (R-Dickson) ran for the open congressional seat in Tennessee’s recent special election, but he finished second to Matt Van Epps in the Republican primary.
After the primary, the head of the conservative PAC, Club for Growth, took credit for Barrett’s loss and called it a warning to other candidates.
After the primary, the head of Club for Growth wrote, “I made it clear that any republican lawmaker who failed to support Governor Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Act … should expect to lose an expensive primary funded by Club for Growth.”
Lee’s so-called “Education Freedom Act” essentially provides discount coupons to private schools for use by wealthy families.
On a related note, a new dark money group with ties to the state’s top Republicans has formed and announced plans to push for a rapid expansion of the voucher scheme – costing the state billions and taking nearly 500,000 students out of public schools.
After new Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board member Teresa Crosslin withdrew her resignation from the board, the big question has been whether her resignation could be withdrawn, or if she would be allowed to remain a School Board member.
Crosslin had been sworn in the day before on Monday, and she resigned Monday evening, stating, “I, Teresa Crosslin, upon further consideration, am immediately resigning my position with the CMCSS School Board, District 3,” according to CMCSS
County Attorney says Crosslin can stay:
In his opinion letter, Harvey explained that under state law, the resignation must be filed with and accepted by the body that appointed Crosslin, which was the County Commission. Since the County Commission hasn’t met since her swearing-in, the commission hasn’t been able to accept the resignation. With the resignation being withdrawn, effectively nothing has happened.
The whole ordeal – joining the school board, being sworn in, resigning, missing the first meeting, then deciding to stay on – all took place in the course of a week.
Chattanooga’s NewsChannel9reports that the Hamilton County School Board is taking a look at options for providing mental health support to students:
Hamilton County Schools is bringing school-based mental health services back to the board agenda after ending its previous agreement with Centerstone.
On Thursday, the Hamilton County Department of Education board will review memorandums of understanding with five companies that a selection committee picked to provide a choice of services for students’ parents.
Centerstone is among the companies being considered, and some officials say they want more options for students.
District officials say these agreements could expand the options for providing therapy, counseling, and other mental health support to students directly on school campuses.
Advocates say Gov. Lee’s voucher plan violates the state’s Constitution
Tennessee’s expanded, universal school voucher scheme violates a state requirement to maintain a system of free public schools, a new lawsuit says.
The Education Law Center, on behalf of a group of Tennessee parents, filed the suit in Davidson County Chancery Court.
“I taught for 12 years, and I fought to get my children into Rutherford County Schools because I knew the quality of education here,” said Jill Smiley, Rutherford County parent and former teacher. “Now the state is systematically defunding the very schools families like mine depend on. You can’t expect excellent schools on a shrinking budget.”
The suit cites the requirement in the Tennessee Constitution that the state establish and support a system of free public schools.
According to the plaintiffs:
The lawsuit argues the voucher law violates the Education Clause of the Tennessee Constitution in two ways:
The Education Clause’s adequacy requirement: By diverting public funds away from already underfunded public schools, the law prevents Tennessee from providing students with the adequate education guaranteed by the state constitution.
The Education Clause’s mandate of a single system of public schools: By funding schools outside the system of free public schools, the voucher law violates this Education Clause mandate.
Estimates by state analysts suggest the program will cost more than $140 million this year alone and may cost over $1 billion a year within 5 years.
Elementary and middle school students will not be allowed to use cell phones on school campuses during the school day, WSMV reports:
The school board in Williamson County voted on Monday night to prohibit students from using cellphones on its elementary and middle school campuses.
After amending the language of the policy, the board voted 10-2 to approve the new policy, which requires elementary and middle school students to lock away their phones during the school day.
Teresa Crosslin was sworn in on Monday, Nov. 17, and resigned that evening, stating, “I, Teresa Crosslin, upon further consideration, am immediately resigning my position with the CMCSS School Board, District 3,” according to CMCSS.
She did not provide a reason for resigning, according to CMCSS spokesman Anthony Johnson. She was not present at Tuesday’s School Board meeting, which was to be her first.
The department has signed interagency agreements to outsource six programs to other agencies, including offices that administer $28 billion in grants to K-12 schools and $3.1 billion for programs that help students finish college.
WSMV-TV Nashville reports that a Metro Nashville Schools bus driver was struck by an elementary school student:
A driver was injured Monday morning after being struck by an elementary student while on a school bus.
Metro Nashville Public Schools confirmed a Waverly-Belmont Elementary School student struck the driver on a general education bus Monday morning, “causing minor injuries.”
A recent TDOE report shows MNPS recording its second-highest graduation rate ever. Several historically disadvantaged groups—economically disadvantaged students, Black students, and students with disabilities—posted their highest rates on record.
Sounds impressive.
Until you look at the details.
The district’s overall graduation rate: 83%.
Hispanic students? Their rate dropped 6.1 percentage points in the 2024–25 school year, landing at 73.2%.
