(The Center Square) – The first bill introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly would put school choice before lawmakers in 2025.
Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, filed Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1 on Wednesday, entitled the “Education Freedom Act of 2025.”
The bill includes $20,000 in scholarships of $7,075 each that could be used for tuition, fees or other education expenses.
Half of the scholarships would go to students below 300% of income, which qualifies them for free or reduced lunches, students with disabilities or those who are eligible for the current school choice plan. Three counties – Shelby, Davidson and Hamilton – already participate in a school choice pilot program.
Every year, 5,000 scholarships with universal eligibility will be added after 75% of the previous year’s scholarships are awarded.
The bill also includes a $2,000 bonus for teachers. Starting teacher pay would increase to $47,000 a year, beginning with the 2025-26 school year. The increase would rank Tennessee’s teacher salaries as the 16th highest in the nation.
In addition, 80% of sports wagering dollars would be dedicated to maintaining K-12 public school facilities, particularly in distressed counties.
Tennessee lawmakers failed to pass school choice legislation during the 2024 session.
“We have made incredible progress to improve education opportunities for Tennessee children, and we are not done,” Johnson said. “This important initiative is the next step in advancing our student-centered approach by empowering parents to make the best decisions for their individual children, regardless of their ZIP code.”
Gov. Bill Lee advocated for the bill.
“For more than a year, I have worked in partnership with the General Assembly to introduce a unified school choice plan that empowers parents when it comes to their child’s education and further invests in Tennessee’s public schools and teachers,” Lee said.
A Beacon Center poll of 1,200 likely Tennessee voters showed both Democrats and Republicans would back candidates who support school choice.
Democratic voters were even more likely than Republicans, with 58% saying they would vote for a proponent of school choice compared to 56% of their GOP counterparts, according to the poll.
“Beacon Impact fully supports SB1-HB1 and thanks Gov. Lee, Leader Johnson, and Leader Lamberth for putting families first,” said Beacon Impact CEO Justin Owen. “Tennesseans overwhelmingly support educational choice and we call on the legislature to empower parents to make the best choice for their child’s education by passing this bill as soon as they return to session in January.”
