LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Tennessee's Governor Bill Lee needs to be held accountable for the poor leadership decision of calling a special session for his education voucher bill. A special session is intended for emergency situations, which is why he used flood relief as a cover to justify it. However, even in his announcement, the voucher bill is listed first. I agree that we need to address relief efforts quickly for those in East Tennessee. However, the voucher bill (HB01/SB01) should be handled like any other bill filed in the General Assembly.

I want to start with this premise: you can’t cut taxes and increase spending at the same time. The Republican Party claims to be fiscally conservative, but I fail to see how exploding the state budget aligns with that principle. I know I’ll receive criticism and face pressure as the local Republican Party chairman. Some may claim I’m speaking out only because I sit on a school board. However, when I believe something is wrong, I won’t be pressured into silence. While President Trump and the Republican Party support universal school choice—a principle I support as well, as I believe parents should have control over their child’s education and the ability to choose their school—this particular bill is deeply flawed.

Below are some points I’ve put together regarding the bill:

1. This bill is not universal. It applies to only 20,000 students, while there are over 1 million students in the state. This means it could potentially “help” only around 2% of students.
2. The bill doesn't impact school budgets immediately. If a student leaves a public school, the state will keep the school’s funding the same as the previous year. However, the state would then be paying for the student to attend a private school and still funding the public school. In effect, the state would be paying double for these students.
3. The $2,000 one-time bonus for teachers is a superficial incentive. It’s a dangling carrot meant to win over teachers’ support, but it doesn’t address the deeper issues within the bill.
4. Private schools are not held accountable in the same way public schools are. For example, the much-criticized third-grade retention law does not apply to private schools that would now be accepting public funds. Additionally, public schools are required to educate all students in Tennessee, regardless of whether they speak English or have other challenges. Private schools, however, can choose which students to admit.
5. The creation of a new fund for school infrastructure is one positive aspect. This fund, supported by state sports gambling revenue, has long been needed. I appreciate that it includes a built-in funding mechanism.
6. The concept of “tax money follows the student” is misleading. While it sounds fair, this principle only applies to public school students. Tax money in the current budget is designated for public school students. Allocating $7,000 per student who has never attended a public school represents entirely new spending.