Top state education officials are wrapping up a task force over the next few days that’s been discussing school vouchers. Such a program would divert public-school dollars to parents paying private-school tuition. A new Nashville lawmaker wants to back a small trial-run.
Republican Steve Dickerson was just elected to the district (PDF) running from Belle Meade up through Joelton and back around the city to Donelson. Dickerson says a school voucher program should start out with a relatively small pool.
“You start with kids who are in schools that are at-risk, or children who are at-risk, and try to get them more opportunities, more options for their education. And once you pilot it there you could expand it to a larger and larger group of students, I hope.”
Governor Bill Haslam asked lawmakers to put off a voucher bill when it came up last session so his administration could study the matter. The state task force expects to reveal its findings Tuesday. Haslam says others in the legislature may offer proposals as well.
Last year the Metro school board unanimously urged state lawmakers to reject vouchers.
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