(The Center Square) – A majority of Tennesseans polled by the Beacon Center said they support Gov. Bill Lee’s expansion of school choice statewide.
The poll of 1,200 registered voters shows 67% back the plan, including 73% of Republicans and 51% of Democrats. Just 13% said they oppose the extension and 20% are not sure.
Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, filed the “Education Freedom Act of 2025” in November. The bill would allow the state’s school choice program, currently limited to Hamilton, Davidson and Shelby counties, in all of the state’s 95 counties. Students who qualify would receive $7,075 in annual scholarships for tuition, fees and other private school expenses.
The bill also includes a $2,000 bonus for teachers and increase in starting teacher pay to $47,000 a year, beginning with the 2025-26 school year.
A majority of respondents (57%) also indicated they would be more likely to vote for a state lawmaker who supports school choice expansion while 12% said they would be less likely to vote for school choice proponents.
The school choice bill has received some criticism. The Hamilton County Board of Education passed a resolution in December asking legislators not to pass the bill as part of their legislative agenda.
“The board recommends retaining current limitations of the pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness including 200% poverty-level income eligibility and prior public school attendance, and to include holding private schools and homeschool programs accepting vouchers to the same accountability stands as public schools,” the legislative agenda said.
House Democratic Leader Karen Camper called for a bipartisan discussion on education in a statement issued last week.
“While I appreciate the goal of empowering parents with more choices, I firmly believe we cannot afford to weaken our public school system in the process,” Camper said. “Instead, we need to focus on strengthening public education by addressing key issues, such as resource allocation, accountability, and equity.”
Part of Camper’s proposal includes changes to the state funding formula for education.
“We should explore adjustments that allocate more resources to districts with higher needs, including rural and economically distressed communities, ensuring no child is left behind,” Camper said. “A revised formula could also prioritize smaller class sizes, access to technology, and additional support for students with disabilities and English language learners.”
Just 40% of those who participated in the Beacon Poll said they were satisfied with the state’s education system, while 55% said they were not.
