School vouchers are here. What now?

The school voucher debate has been raging in Tennessee for almost two decades…

but it was just this year the Tennessee State Legislature successfully passed a law creating a statewide program. The Education Freedom Scholarship Act will provide 20,000 eligible students with about $7,300 per year in public school funds to use for private school tuition. So far, nearly 40,000 families have applied for the program.

Today we ask: now that the school voucher horse is out of the barn…what’s next? How does the program actually work? What guardrails are in place to ensure the program complies with the law? What’s worked in other states — and is it possible to improve the program? These are today’s questions…AND it’s also your turn to talk. Call 615-760-2000 to join the conversation — or join us live streaming on YouTube and pop a question into the chat.

This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.

Guests

• Dr. Felipe Barrera-Osorio, Associate professor of public policy, education, and economics, Peabody College
• Camellia Burris, Education Reporter, WPLN News
• Chelsea Crawford, Executive Director, TennesseeCAN
• Logan Key, parent

Further reading and listening

• Tennessee legislature puts hundreds of millions toward private-school vouchers
  House, Senate narrowly pass governor’s initiative (Tennessee Lookout)
• Students across Tennessee can now apply for the expanded school voucher program (WPLN)
• Tennessee governor defends voucher application process; Gov. Bill Lee says enrollment history not required or needed (Tennessee Lookout)