Gov. Bill Lee defended Thursday the state’s decision to award a no-bid, over-the-budget contract to an outside vendor for the implementation of school vouchers. The controversy comes after the Tennessee Department of Education awarded Florida-based ClassWallet a $1.2 million deal to manage the early rollout of the program and track expenses. Earlier this week, Republican […]
Tennessee Lawmakers Say They See ‘Real Problems’ With School Voucher Rollout
Tennessee lawmakers grilled the state Department of Education on Wednesday over a recently signed contract for the implementation of school vouchers. Republican lawmakers hinted that Gov. Bill Lee’s administration’s plans to roll out the program early could be in jeopardy.
Tennessee Education Officials Will Use Unspent Funds To Start School Vouchers This Year
More details are coming out as Tennessee prepares to launch the Education Savings Account program in Shelby and Davidson counties. In a legislative hearing Monday, the state’s Department of Education said it’s using money from a dormant career initiative to be able to start school vouchers this year.
Tennessee’s New House Speaker Wants To Focus On Early Childhood Literacy — Not School Choice
Health care and criminal justice reform are among the top priorities of the new Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, mostly aligning with other Republican leaders in the state. But when it comes to education, Sexton says he will focus on early childhood literacy rates instead of school choice.
Will Tennessee’s School Voucher Money Count As Income? Federal Law Says At Least Some Would Be.
Is it income or is it not? That’s the question many are asking about Tennessee’s new school voucher initiative after the state’s Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn provided conflicting statements last week.
Even If Vouchers Pass, Vanderbilt Expert Finds Few Available Seats At Private Schools
Many students who would qualify for private school vouchers would still have nowhere to go, according to a top education researcher at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College. Associate professor Claire Smrekar finds few private schools are interested in accepting vouchers and those who would don’t have that much room.
What You Won’t Hear In Tonight’s State Of The State Address
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam will give the final State of the State Address of his first term tonight. Little is known about what he will say. But there are some guesses about what he won’t.
Memphis Parents Travel To Capitol By The Busload For School Voucher Rally
Parents wearing yellow scarves filled an auditorium near the Tennessee capitol Tuesday to advocate for school vouchers. Many traveled from Memphis to ask for help paying private school tuition.
A Visit to Tennessee’s Education Bill Graveyard
Tennessee lawmakers bit off more than they could chew this session when it comes to classroom reform.
Ramsey Says School Vouchers Won’t Happen this Year
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says the push for a private school voucher plan should be discontinued for the year, now that most committees have closed up shop.
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