Tennessee governor endorses school choice bill for 2025

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has officially endorsed a school choice bill pre-filed in the state Legislature.

In an ad released before Christmas, Lee promoted the Education Freedom Act of 2025, which has been pre-filed in both the House and Senate.

“Freedom is at the core of being a Tennessean,” the Republican governor said. “So when it comes to education, more freedom is what our children need to succeed. That means empowering parents with school choice, supporting our teachers and investing in our public schools.  

“Tennessee can have the best schools and ensure every child gets the education that fits their needs. That’s why we need to pass the Education Freedom Act.” 

The act proposes a scholarship program to begin in the fall. If passed, the program would offer the equivalent of the state base funding amount – which is currently $7,075 per student – to up to 20,000 students. Half of the scholarships would be specifically reserved for low-income families. 

In subsequent years, the number of scholarships offered would be determined by the amount of funding available. 

The program would cost about $142 million the first year, compared to the $7 billion the state currently spends on K-12 education. 

Currently, Tennessee has two small school choice programs. One is exclusively for special needs students, and the other is a pilot program only available in three cities. 

But Lee has been advocating for a more expansive program for over a year. 

He supported legislation in 2023 that received strong support from voters even in rural areas. When passed, the bill increased funding to the preexisting programs. 

National surveys show the majority of Americans support a variety of forms of school choice. Nearly two-thirds specifically support education savings accounts (ESA). 

And Lee isn’t alone in his campaign to bring education freedom to his state.  

Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas are waging similar battles in their respective states. 

All three are also attempting to craft school choice plans to prioritize low-income families.