The next generation of Tennessee students can achieve their most ambitious dreams when empowered with a substantive education. Gov. Bill Lee knows this and is endorsing the Education Freedom Scholarship Act to ensure that K-12 students reach their full potential, no matter their ZIP code or socioeconomic status.
Club for Growth recently launched a statewide ad campaign supporting the Education Freedom Act and conducted polling that showed nearly three-quarters of Tennesseans approve of the bill. Any Republican lawmaker who fails to support the measure during Gov. Lee’s special legislative session should expect to lose an expensive primary funded by Club for Growth Action.
Education Freedom Act will broaden students’ opportunities
This pledge comes after Club for Growth Action and its affiliated School Freedom Fund invested $15.7 million during the 2024 election cycle, which succeeded in defeating 14 so-called Republican state-level lawmakers who opposed school freedom in Texas and Tennessee, including a $3.6 million campaign that succeeded in two Tennessee State Senate and three State House races.
Opposing the bill isn’t just bad politics; it’s bad policy. The Education Freedom Act would expand the state’s popular Education Savings Account program by creating 20,000 tax-exempt scholarships for families to spend on educational resources at their preferred public or private school.
If enacted, the bill would provide broader educational opportunities to many underserved students to fit their learning styles. Half of the newly created scholarships would go to students whose annual household income is less than 300% of the amount needed to qualify for free lunch programs. The number of scholarships will increase year-over-year based on the program’s success.
Students who receive schooling tailored to their needs perform better and feel more academically fulfilled. Programs similar to the Education Freedom Act, including Washington, D.C.’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, resulted in a 21% increase in high school graduation rates and more enthusiasm for learning. Tennessee students should enjoy the same benefits, according to The Heritage Foundation.
It is also important to note that even students who do not qualify for scholarships under the bill would benefit from the program. For example, decreased classroom sizes result in more one-on-one interactions between students and teachers.
Additionally, school administrators may update their curriculums or teaching methods to remain competitive in a demand-driven system. Towards this end, the Education Freedom Act includes a $2,000 bonus to every Tennessee public school teacher and reserves funds to build and improve K-12 public school facilities to maintain enrollment and resources.
We applaud Governor Lee for his efforts to deliver more options to Tennessee students. Starting Monday, lawmakers must also commit themselves to empowering K-12 students and parents under the Education Freedom Act. Tennessee families deserve no less.
David McIntosh is president of Club for Growth, a national organization focused on a fiscally conservative agenda including tax cuts and economic policy issues.
Updated in the second to last paragraph to correct a labeling error by the author. It now reads properly as Club for Growth.
