McKenzie Special School District Board to Meet to Discuss State Voucher Program

The McKenzie Special School District Board of Education is convening a special meeting on Monday, January 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Board of Education office 114 Bell Avenue. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a proposed resolution opposing Governor Lee's "Education Freedom Act".

Governor Bill Lee is proposing the Education Freedom Scholarship Act, which will empower Tennessee parents with the freedom to choose the right school for their child and give families a choice regarding where their taxpayer dollars are spent, according to the State of Tennessee's website.

Local public school administrators believe this is simply a voucher system that will strip many students from local schools now funded by federal, state and local funds.  Funding for local schools is based on the number of students enrolled in that school. 

The state's website indicates that Tennessee residents entitled to attend K-12 at a public school, including homeschoolers enrolled in umbrella or church-related schools, will be eligible for the program. The bill prioritizes eligibility for the most at-risk students before reaching universal eligibility.

• 2024-25 school year:  A total of 20,000 scholarships will be awarded on a rolling first-come, first-served basis.
  • 10,000 scholarships available for Tennessee students who are at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, have a disability, or are eligible for the existing ESA pilot program.
  • 10,000 additional scholarships available to a universal pool of students entitled to attend a public school.
• 2025-26 school year and beyond: Universal eligibility for all students entitled to attend a public school. If applications exceed available scholarships due to funding, lower income, public-school and returning scholarship students will receive priority.