The Tennessee House of Representatives has passed Governor Bill Lee’s Education Reform Act. The vote was 54 in favor, 44 against, and one not voting. 5th District Representative David Hawk voted against the bill.
2:55 PM: The Tennessee Senate is now being consider the same bill before it would head to Governor Lee for signature.
Governor Lee’s proposal would provide 20,000 scholarships that parents could use to help defray costs of sending their children to private schools.
The scholarship would be for a little over $7,000 per year.
A portion of those scholarships would be awarded based on income level.
Both the Greeneville and Greene County Boards of Education, along with the Greene County Commission and most Boards of Education in East Tennessee have all voted to oppose the program. Lee said he understands the resistance to change, but also pointed to his administrations support of education.
