Now
20
Thu
44
Fri
49
View the latest school and business schedule changes throughout our region.
by WCYB
TOPICS:
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WCYB) — On Wednesday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced a special legislative session on January 27 to pass a school voucher proposal, The Education Freedom Scholarship Act.
School leaders in Sullivan County voted unanimously to oppose it.
The proposal would create scholarships of up to $20,000 for eligible students to attend private schools of their choice.
The Tennessee Department of Education would award these scholarships for the 2025-26 school year.
Sullivan County Director of Schools Chuck Carter told News 5 that the voucher system does not serve all students and that school systems that use a voucher program have less accountability.
Carter hopes parents will contact their leaders and show opposition to the Education Freedom Act.
This latest push to pass a school voucher program in Tennessee comes after Gov. Lee's previous attempt failed last year.
In addition, the special session will also consider additional Helene and disaster recovery funding and public safety measures related to immigration.
Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable, who signed a letter supporting the governor's plan on Monday released a statement on the school board's decision to oppose the school voucher program:
"I respect the individual members of the school board and their decision to do what they think is in the best interest of their students. That's the way things work in a representative democracy. I’m anxious to see the final bill and trust it will reflect the wishes of the majority of all informed Tennesseans."
