Tennessee Governor Proposes Universal School Choice Program

Despite Opposition, Broad Support for School Choice Expansion Seen in Polls

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has proposed a universal school choice program, which would make Tennessee the tenth state in the nation to offer such a program.
The proposed program would expand the current education savings account (ESA) program, making ESAs worth $7,075 available to 20,000 students for the 2024-25 school year, and universally available to Tennessee families starting in the 2025-26 school year.
Despite opposition from the Tennessee Education Association and Democrats, polling shows broad and bipartisan support for expanding school choice in Tennessee.
Universal school choice programs have been enacted in nine states so far in 2023, with more limited forms of school choice enacted in over 20 states.
Governor Lee's proposal is seen as part of a wider trend of states using expanded or universal school choice as a way to attract new residents and investment.