Tennessee governor unveils push for statewide school voucher expansion, no income limitations
1 year ago

Tennessee governor unveils push for statewide school voucher expansion, no income limitations

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday backed a plan to expand beyond a three-county school voucher program for low-income kids by offering public money for private schooling statewide, regardless of family income. The current program awards eligible families around $8,100 in public tax dollars to help cover private school tuition and other preapproved expenses for up to 5,000 low-income or disabled students. The new program Lee is proposing would make 20,000 education scholarships available next year, with half going to students who are lower income, disabled or otherwise able to participate in the current program. “Taking taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition statewide would divert much-needed resources from our already underfunded public schools and threaten the strength of our Tennessee communities.

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History of this topic

Georgia moves forward in creating voucher program for private and home schools
1 month ago

Georgia moves forward in creating voucher program for private and home schools

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — A new Georgia program that will give up to $6,500 a year to some families to pay for private school tuition or home-schooling expenses will begin accepting applications in early 2025, but lawmakers must still determine how many vouchers the state will pay for. The law provides $6,500 education savings accounts to students zoned for any public school …

North Carolina GOP leaders reach spending deal to clear private school voucher waitlist
3 months, 2 weeks ago

North Carolina GOP leaders reach spending deal to clear private school voucher waitlist

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Republican House and Senate leaders said Friday that they have agreed with each other on a supplemental spending proposal that includes hundreds of millions of dollars to eliminate the state’s waitlist for private school vouchers. The proposal sets aside an additional $463 million for this school year and next for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program …

Families rally to urge North Carolina lawmakers to fully fund private-school vouchers
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Families rally to urge North Carolina lawmakers to fully fund private-school vouchers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Dozens of North Carolina parents held a rally on Wednesday to urge Republican legislators to fully fund scholarships for children to attend private and religious schools after lawmakers failed to work out an agreement earlier this year to meet the program’s soaring demand. Senate leader Phil Berger also met with the advocates and expressed his support but …

North Carolina Senate OKs $500 million for private school vouchers, student accounts
7 months, 3 weeks ago

North Carolina Senate OKs $500 million for private school vouchers, student accounts

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Senate Republicans pushed legislation through their chamber Thursday to set aside roughly $500 million more for now for programs that provide taxpayer money to help K-12 students attend private schools and eliminate their waiting lists. During Thursday’s hour-long floor debate on the issue, Senate Democrats argued it was unfair for the wealthiest families to receive …

North Carolina Republicans seek hundreds of millions of dollars more for school vouchers
7 months, 3 weeks ago

North Carolina Republicans seek hundreds of millions of dollars more for school vouchers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Addressing a sharp increase in private-school grant applications, North Carolina Republicans advanced legislation on Wednesday to spend hundreds of millions of dollars now to eliminate a large waiting list this fall for Opportunity Scholarships and to permanently meet expected higher demand. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted for legislation that would spend another $248 million in the coming …

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor
8 months ago

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Proclaiming that “education is truly the great equalizer,” Gov Brian Kemp signed a law on Tuesday that will give up to $6,500 a year to some Georgia families to pay for private school tuition or home-schooling expenses. Kemp portrayed Senate Bill 233, the Georgia Promise Scholarship, as part of an “all of the above” strategy that also supports …

Tennessee Gov. Lee admits defeat in school voucher push
8 months ago

Tennessee Gov. Lee admits defeat in school voucher push

Associated Press  

GALLATIN, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee conceded defeat Monday in his push to enact universal school vouchers this year, acknowledging there was not a “path forward” after months of Republican infighting. I feel confident it will be, but we couldn’t put the final pieces together this year.” According to the National Education Association, the largest U.S. teachers union, 11 …

Tennessee lawmakers approve $52.8B spending plan as hopes of school voucher agreement flounder
8 months ago

Tennessee lawmakers approve $52.8B spending plan as hopes of school voucher agreement flounder

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s Republican-dominant Statehouse approved a $52.8 billion spending plan Thursday for the upcoming fiscal year that includes an eye-popping $1.95 billion tax break and refund for businesses, but little new tax relief for most Tennessee families. The House version would overhaul standardized testing for public school students, change teacher and principal evaluation requirements, cover more of the …

South Carolina House votes to expand voucher program. It’s fate in Senate is less clear
9 months ago

South Carolina House votes to expand voucher program. It’s fate in Senate is less clear

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Republicans in the South Carolina House gave key approval Wednesday to a bill expanding a program allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private and home-school education even as a pilot plan is just starting and the state’s highest court is considering whether it is legal. “We can support our public school and our public school teachers, …

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor
9 months ago

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Georgia senators gave final approval Wednesday to a plan to create a $6,500 voucher funding for private school tuition and home schooling, sending the measure to Gov. The bill would provide $6,500 education savings accounts to students attending public schools that rank in Georgia’s bottom 25% for academic achievement. They also say private schools don’t have to accept …

Georgia school voucher bill narrowly clears longtime obstacle with state House passage
9 months, 1 week ago

Georgia school voucher bill narrowly clears longtime obstacle with state House passage

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Georgia Republicans powered a voucher plan funding private school tuition and home schooling through the state House on Thursday, nearing a goal that has long eluded the state’s school choice advocates as GOP leaders overcame longstanding skepticism from some rural members of their party The House voted 91-82 for Senate Bill 233, passing it with one vote to …

Georgia House speaker aims to persuade resistant Republicans in voucher push
9 months, 1 week ago

Georgia House speaker aims to persuade resistant Republicans in voucher push

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns is leaning into the push to pass a voucher plan funding private school tuition and home schooling, looking to change the minds of fellow Republican skeptics. The bill would provide $6,500 education savings accounts to students attending public schools that rank in Georgia’s bottom 25% for academic achievement. Those include writing current teacher …

Alabama lawmakers have approved a school choice program
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Alabama lawmakers have approved a school choice program

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday signed legislation creating a program similar to school vouchers that would provide eligible families with as much as $7,000 to help pay for private school and $2,000 for homeschooling expenses. The state, he added, should “focus on the students and not so much institutions.” The legislation will allow eligible families to …

School voucher ideas expose deep GOP divisions in Tennessee Legislature
9 months, 3 weeks ago

School voucher ideas expose deep GOP divisions in Tennessee Legislature

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With a supermajority grip over the Tennessee Statehouse, there are very few things Republicans can’t push through even with the harshest of criticism and public opposition. Yet, after weeks of working behind closed doors on a sweeping school voucher plan that would give coveted public dollars to many more families to spend on private schools, deep divisions …

Tennessee governor’s budget plan funds more school vouchers, business tax break, new state parks
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Tennessee governor’s budget plan funds more school vouchers, business tax break, new state parks

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As Tennessee’s recent boom years fade with slower tax revenues, Gov. Bill Lee is forging ahead on some big-ticket items in his state budget proposal — among them, a dramatic expansion of taxpayer-funded vouchers to help kids attend private schools, a big tax break for businesses, and growth of state parks and natural areas. The Republican’s spending …

Tennessee governor pitches school voucher expansion as state revenues stagnate
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Tennessee governor pitches school voucher expansion as state revenues stagnate

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nearly five years after narrowly convincing lawmakers to allow a select number of families to use tax dollars for private schooling, Tennessee Gov. Lee maintains that the state still has enough money to spread around more school vouchers to families, properly fund public schools, distribute pay raises to state employees and even set aside more money for …

Tennessee lawmakers kick off session to mull voucher expansion and changes after school shooting
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Tennessee lawmakers kick off session to mull voucher expansion and changes after school shooting

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE — Tennessee lawmakers returned Tuesday for months of election-year work, anchored by the debate over whether taxpayer money to help students attend private schools should be available statewide for families of any income level. Lawmakers also have a third chance to pass gun control measures in reaction to a deadly Nashville Christian elementary school shooting last March. Lingering tensions …

Some Georgia Republicans who sank an education voucher bill in 2023 aren’t changing their minds
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Some Georgia Republicans who sank an education voucher bill in 2023 aren’t changing their minds

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — On the last day of Georgia’s 2023 legislative session, 16 mostly rural House Republicans defied pressure from Gov. “I’m just not ready to give up on public education as we know it right now,” said Rep. J. Collins of Villa Rica, who added that “taking away money from public education is not the answer.” The Georgia push is …

Teachers’ advocates challenge private school voucher program in South Carolina
1 year, 1 month ago

Teachers’ advocates challenge private school voucher program in South Carolina

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A group of South Carolina parents and teachers’ advocates filed a challenge Thursday to a new Republican-backed law allowing taxpayer dollars to help families pay for private schools. The South Carolina Education Association and state chapter of the NAACP want the state’s highest court to toss out the program that they said runs afoul of a prohibition …

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states
1 year, 1 month ago

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states

Associated Press  

In some states, higher-income families can now use taxpayer money to cover private school tuition -- and more people than projected are taking the offer, which might force scrambles to shore up state budgets. It’s especially an issue in states like Arizona and Iowa, where at least some families whose children were already in private school can now take advantage …

Tennessee GOP is willing to reject millions in funding, if it avoids complying with federal strings
1 year, 2 months ago

Tennessee GOP is willing to reject millions in funding, if it avoids complying with federal strings

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Republican leaders are escalating their calls to reject millions of federal dollars rather than comply with requirements over LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access and other hot-button issues. “Typically, there’s a fight for federal funding and states are more than eager to accept money,” Kahn said. “When you take federal government money, their philosophies and what they want …

Milwaukee bankruptcy avoidance plan clears Wisconsin Legislature
1 year, 6 months ago

Milwaukee bankruptcy avoidance plan clears Wisconsin Legislature

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Legislature on Wednesday passed a bipartisan plan to prevent Milwaukee from going bankrupt that also sends more state aid to every community in the state, a long-sought-after funding increase agreed to by Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Evers, speaking Wednesday on WTMJ-AM before the vote, heralded the deal as “really, really important” both for Milwaukee …

Proposals would bring dramatic change to Ohio’s voucher program
1 year, 6 months ago

Proposals would bring dramatic change to Ohio’s voucher program

Associated Press  

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio parents could soon see more taxpayer money in their pockets to help send their schoolchildren to private and religious schools, or fund homeschooling, under changes to a voucher program that Republican state lawmakers and the governor must hammer out by month’s end. Dubbed “backpack bills” because the funding follows students wherever they go, both legislative proposals …

Large private school voucher expansion voted for by both North Carolina legislative chambers
1 year, 7 months ago

Large private school voucher expansion voted for by both North Carolina legislative chambers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Families at any income level — not just the poor and the middle class — could receive North Carolina taxpayer funds for their children to attend K-12 private schools under legislation getting formal support Wednesday with votes in both chambers. Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County Democrat opposed to the program, said eliminating the income standards …

South Carolina governor signs private school voucher bill
1 year, 7 months ago

South Carolina governor signs private school voucher bill

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s governor signed a bill into law Thursday that will eventually allow up to 15,000 students in the state to use public money for private schools. Within three years, the eligibility is to be capped at 15,000 students, or about 2% of South Carolina’s school age population, for families making around $120,000 or less. Republican South …

N. Carolina GOP seeks big private school voucher expansion
1 year, 7 months ago

N. Carolina GOP seeks big private school voucher expansion

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Public money for private school tuition would be available to all of North Carolina’s K-12 students regardless of income under Republican-backed legislation that began advancing in the General Assembly on Wednesday. In a tweet last week, Cooper called the expansion proposal “worse than awful” for offering “vouchers that can be used by billionaires to send their kids …

After years, South Carolina appears set for school vouchers
1 year, 7 months ago

After years, South Carolina appears set for school vouchers

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House gave key approval to an education voucher bill Wednesday, likely clearing the way for up to 15,000 students to be able to use public money for private school tuition. They said parents should have the freedom to send their children to whatever school educates them best and the idea will help public schools, …

Tenn. nears voucher growth, teacher dues limit with pay bump
1 year, 8 months ago

Tenn. nears voucher growth, teacher dues limit with pay bump

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Republican lawmakers in Tennessee on Wednesday put themselves a step away from expanding a school voucher program from two counties to four and raising the minimum teacher salary in a bill that also bans educators from deducting dues for professional organizations from their paychecks. Republican Rep. Gary Hicks, from Rogersville, said the current system ensures local control …

Georgia House GOP members break ranks to doom voucher bill
1 year, 8 months ago

Georgia House GOP members break ranks to doom voucher bill

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Rural Georgia Republicans defied lobbying from Gov. Brian Kemp and conservative groups on Wednesday to vote down a proposed state voucher plan funding private school tuition and home schooling. But don’t pretend that it will benefit them and don’t pretend that it won’t cost a lot of money, and don’t pretend that we can afford it.” Supporters argued …

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an …

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers
1 year, 9 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs bill creating school vouchers

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an education bill Wednesday that creates a new school voucher program, raises minimum teacher salaries and places restrictions on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. Over three years, the plan will phase in an “education freedom account” to pay for private- and home-schooling costs equal to 90% of the state’s per-student funding for public …

Sanders’ school voucher plan gets Arkansas lawmakers’ OK
1 year, 9 months ago

Sanders’ school voucher plan gets Arkansas lawmakers’ OK

Associated Press  

— Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday approved a education overhaul that creates a new school voucher program, handing a major policy win to Republican Gov. “I’m ready to sign it into law tomorrow and end the failed status quo that has governed our education system for far too long,” Sanders said in a statement. “Every kid should have access to a …

Arkansas Gov. Sanders proposes raises, vouchers in bill
1 year, 10 months ago

Arkansas Gov. Sanders proposes raises, vouchers in bill

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposed on Wednesday an overhaul of the state’s schools that will pair a 39% raise in starting teacher pay with a new voucher program that will direct public money to pay for private and home schooling. Sanders also said the bill, which she’s called her priority in this year’s legislative session, will include limits on how race …

Iowa lawmakers OK public money for private school students
1 year, 10 months ago

Iowa lawmakers OK public money for private school students

Associated Press  

DES MOINES, Iowa — Any Iowa student who wants to attend a private school could use public money to pay for tuition or other expenses under a plan passed Tuesday by the Legislature and quickly signed into law by Gov. During debate Monday night, Rep. Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison, said Democrats were overstating what the private school funding …

Florida House speaker wants to expand school voucher program
1 year, 11 months ago

Florida House speaker wants to expand school voucher program

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida would make every student eligible for vouchers to attend private school with taxpayer money under proposed legislation House Speaker Paul Renner said Thursday will be a priority for the session that begins in March. The bill could greatly expand the state’s current voucher programs, but would give priority to low-income and special needs students ahead of …

Tax money for students for private school on SC Senate floor
1 year, 11 months ago

Tax money for students for private school on SC Senate floor

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senators said a bill that would give some less well off parents and guardians up to $6,000 a year for private school tuition will be the first thing they debate in the 2023 session. Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told members the bill will come up for debate Tuesday on the Senate floor. The …

New Arizona governor wants to undo school voucher expansion
1 year, 11 months ago

New Arizona governor wants to undo school voucher expansion

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs wants to undo a massive expansion of a school voucher program championed last year by her GOP predecessor and other Republicans that lets students apply to use public money for private-school tuition and other education costs. In releasing its budget proposals Friday, the governor’s office said the expansion is siphoning money from underfunded …

Tennessee judges uphold contentious school voucher law
2 years ago

Tennessee judges uphold contentious school voucher law

Associated Press  

A Tennessee judicial panel has upheld the state’s school voucher law, which allows public tax dollars to be given to families to pay for private schooling. Critics of vouchers argue that the law will weaken the state’s public education system, but the three-judge panel said counties and families who sued couldn’t prove how students would be immediately harmed by the …

Huge Arizona school voucher plan in effect after foes fail
2 years, 2 months ago

Huge Arizona school voucher plan in effect after foes fail

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — All Arizona parents now can use state tax money to send their children to private or religious schools or pay homeschooling costs after an effort by public school advocates to block a massive expansion of the state’s private school voucher law failed to collect enough signatures to block it. He celebrated on Twitter, saying “Let’s Roll!” and “Parents …

Foes of Arizona school vouchers file to block huge expansion
2 years, 3 months ago

Foes of Arizona school vouchers file to block huge expansion

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Public school advocates who oppose a massive expansion of Arizona’s private school voucher system enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by Republican Gov. “But we have enough that we feel confident that with the validity of our signatures we can turn in and get through the processing and get it on the ballot.” Voucher opponents …

Arizona governor touts school voucher plan, slams opponents
2 years, 4 months ago

Arizona governor touts school voucher plan, slams opponents

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and backers of universal school vouchers took a victory lap Tuesday over legislation the Republican-controlled Legislature enacted in June giving the state the nation’s most expansive voucher system, and he also used the time to attack backers of public schools who are trying to block the measure at the ballot. “There’s no one-size …

Tennessee gov: School voucher program to start immediately
2 years, 5 months ago

Tennessee gov: School voucher program to start immediately

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Just hours prior to Lee’s announcement the voucher program would be implemented this year, the state’s attorneys told a panel of judges that “decisions haven’t been made.” Stephanie Bergmeyer of the attorney general’s office said that some of the deadlines would be based on the participating schools and when they would require a student to …

Arizona OKs biggest US school voucher plan, faces challenge
2 years, 5 months ago

Arizona OKs biggest US school voucher plan, faces challenge

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Republican Gov. The expansion Ducey signed will let every parent in Arizona take public money now sent to the K-12 public school system and use it to pay for their children’s private school tuition or other education costs. “Our network of volunteers across the state are pumped and ready.” Lewis and other public school advocates say vouchers take …

Court clears path for long-blocked Tennessee school vouchers
2 years, 7 months ago

Court clears path for long-blocked Tennessee school vouchers

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s highest court ruled Wednesday that Republican Gov. The Tennessee Supreme Court’s 3-2 decision overturns several lower court rulings that had previously determined the program violated the Tennessee Constitution’s “home rule,” which says the Legislature can’t pass measures singling out individual counties without local support. “Every child deserves a high-quality education, and today’s Tennessee Supreme Court opinion …

Court clears path for long-blocked Tennessee school vouchers
2 years, 7 months ago

Court clears path for long-blocked Tennessee school vouchers

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Tennessee Supreme Court's 3-2 decision overturns several lower …

Tennessee governor signs new K-12 funding formula into law
2 years, 7 months ago

Tennessee governor signs new K-12 funding formula into law

Associated Press  

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law Monday an overhaul he proposed for the formula for funding the state’s multibillion-dollar K-12 education system. Under the new school funding plan, Tennessee would join nearly 40 other states that attach a set amount of money per student. The bill states that schools will receive a base dollar amount of …

Tennessee nears overhaul of K-12 education funding formula
2 years, 7 months ago

Tennessee nears overhaul of K-12 education funding formula

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s Republican-dominated General Assembly neared the finish line Wednesday of an overhaul of the state formula for funding its multibillion-dollar K-12 education system, angering Democratic lawmakers who were abruptly blocked from floor discussion of one of this year’s most sweeping pieces of legislation. The school formula measure passed 65-27 in the House with Republican Rep. Mark White, …

SC House considering its own private school voucher bill
2 years, 10 months ago

SC House considering its own private school voucher bill

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Leaders in the South Carolina House appear to be pushing their own bill to give poorer parents money to pay tuition at private schools. Unlike some other voucher programs, the money wouldn’t come out of the state budget for public schools, instead being pulled from a contingency fund, House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith said. Rep. …

Republicans want input from education voucher bill opponents
2 years, 10 months ago

Republicans want input from education voucher bill opponents

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The leader of Republicans in the South Carolina Senate said one of his main goals this session is to pass a bill that would allow some parents to get public money to spend on private schools. Economists who estimate how much bills could cost issued a fiscal impact statement saying if every eligible student participates, the program …

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