Haslam’s School Vouchers Bill Lurches Forward, Amid Questions Over Who’s Affected

Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris says if under the proposal, if all 5,000 vouchers aren’t claimed, students getting free and reduced lunch in districts with failing schools would then be eligible. (Photo: WPLN/Daniel Potter)

The governor’s school vouchers proposal is back in gear in the state Senate.  The bill had stalled amid confusion over which students it would affect, and where in Tennessee.

A vouchers program would divert public education dollars to help certain students afford private school instead.  Lawmakers and the governor have been treading cautiously on the idea, with good reason, says Memphis Democrat Jim Kyle:

Kyle warns even when some students leave for private schools, it won’t make running public schools cheaper.

“If you took 10 percent of the kids out of the school system, your school system will still cost the same amount of money, but you’re with 10 percent less money.”

The governor has insisted on starting small, with just five thousand students getting vouchers next school year.

A proposal in the state House would broaden the bill to include several rural counties.  Instead, the senate version passed yesterday will be limited to a few districts with failing schools, mostly in cities, and to students on free and reduced lunch.