Tennessee families are suing the state – claiming that the universal voucher program is unconstitutional. They argue that vouchers divert funds from public schools into private schools that they say discriminate against students and lack accountability.
“I’ve raised nine children in Memphis, and all of them have attended Shelby County Schools,” said Apryle Young, one of the plaintiffs. “I’ve seen what our teachers can do when they have resources, and what happens when those resources disappear. We need to invest in our public schools, not abandon them.”
The controversial program – called Education Freedom Scholarships – allows families to use taxpayer money to go towards to cost of attending K-12 private schools. The vouchers, which are each $7,295, go directly to the private school to cover anything from tuition to books to classroom supplies.
The program is expected to cost taxpayers $1 billion over the next five years.
WHAT TO KNOW
Photo: Alexis Marshall/WPLN
According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, the voucher program is unconstitutional for two reasons.
- It prevents Tennessee from providing students with the adequate education guaranteed by the state constitution by diverting funds from public schools which are already underfunded.
- The lawsuit claims the program violates a mandate for a single system of public schools by funding schools outside the public school system.
Private schools don’t have to comply with the same academic standards, accountability measures, or civil rights protections that public schools do. This allows them to deny admission to LGBTQ students, those of certain religions and kids with disabilities. Public schools are not able to deny admission to any student.
“This voucher law fundamentally discriminates against children with disabilities,” said Dustin Park, one of the lawsuit’s plaintiffs and a Blount County parent of a student with Down Syndrome. “Private schools can refuse to admit students like my son or fail to provide the accommodations he needs to succeed.”
Even though these private schools are getting taxpayer funds from the vouchers, they don’t have to follow state curriculum standards, provide special education services, follow teacher certification requirements or administer the TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program.
Lawmakers have been calling for more transparency for the program for months. The state isn’t tracking student enrollment data, meaning there’s no way to know whether these students were already enrolled in private schools when they received their vouchers.
Gov. Bill Lee branded these “education freedom scholarships” as a means of expanding private school access. However a state review found that two-thirds of the families expected to get these funds are already enrolled in private schools.
Dive into more about this story.
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MORE TO KNOW
- The iconic Fox Trot Carousel might be returning to the Tennessee State Museum. WPLN’s Tony Gonzelez reports that the museum is asking for support to restore the artistic merry-go-round that’s been in storage since 2003 after declining visits and steeped costs, compounded by the pandemic. It was created by artist Red Grooms and first started spinning in 1998. Instead of horses, it features 36 characters from state history, ranging from Andrew Jackson to Olympian Wilma Rudolph
- Elementary and middle school kids in Williamson County will no longer have access to their cell phones – even during lunch and recess. The total cell phone ban will not apply to high schoolers, who can use their phones outside of the classroom, the Tennessean reports. A recent school board meeting sparked debate on implementing a total ban among high schoolers. Some cited safety concerns as a reason for kids to have phones, while others think the phones promote bullying.
- The Knoxville Zoo welcomed a newborn Western lowland gorilla this week. 27 year-old Kumi gave birth on Wednesday, the Associated Press reports. Videos online show the wrinkly, wiry-haired baby clinging to its mom, smiling and napping. Kumi has access to the main gorilla habitat, so visitors to the Knoxville Zoo may be able to see her with her newborn. The Western lowland gorilla is critically endangered, so the zoo’s president says this birth represents an important step forward for the species.
FROM WNXP
Our own Jewly Hight reports about the CMA awards in her series Key Changes. On a global scale and right here in our backyard, the music industry is evolving at a dizzying pace. And this new series is designed to make sense of what’s happening.
Among the big winners at the 59th annual CMA Awards are names you’d expect, Lainey Wilson in particular. She not only hosted the show again — a reminder that she’s already secured her place in the pantheon of current country superstars — she came away with female vocalist, album and entertainer of the year trophies.
Others in the mix are newer to the spotlight, and their growing success points to trends potentially reemerging in the country genre.
Explore the full Key Changes story.
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