(The Center Square) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is continuing his advocacy for school choice in a new television advertisement for the American Federation for Children.
The ad is airing across the state, the governor’s office said Monday.
Lee and Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, introduced a bill last month that would expand the school choice program statewide. A pilot program is being implemented in Davidson, Hamilton, and Shelby counties.
“Freedom is at the core of being a Tennessean, so when it comes to education, more freedom is what our children need,” Lee said. “The Education Freedom Act empowers parents with school choice, supports our teachers, and further invests in our public schools.
The American Federation for Children said its mission is “to empower families, especially lower-income families, with the freedom to choose the best K-12 education for their children,” according to its website.
The Hamilton County Board of Education has opposed the bill as part of its legislative agenda.
The pilot program has not demonstrated improved student outcomes, the board said.
“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, passed last week, said.
