99% of TN school voucher renewal applications approved

From Local 3 News: The Tennessee Department of Education renewed Education Freedom Scholarships for nearly all current voucher recipients, according to records obtained by Local 3. 

For the 2026-2027 school year, 18,644 students currently enrolled in the program applied. The department reports 99% of currently enrolled students applied for renewal.

For the 2026-2027 school year, 18,644 students currently enrolled in the program applied. The department reports 99% of currently enrolled students applied for renewal.

This year's application prioritized current recipients, followed by eligible students based on household income.

The records obtained by Local 3 do not yet include information regarding new applicants.
When enacted last year, the program included 20,000 vouchers, with an expansion to 25,000 vouchers the following year.

If capped at 25,000, there would be fewer than 7,000 scholarships remaining for the record 56,442 applicants.
 
The upcoming year's scholarship will cover $7,530 in tuition.

However, Governor Bill Lee wants to expand the number of available vouchers to 40,000, which could cost nearly $113 million. The scheduled increase of 5,000 seats and inflation will separately cost $42 million, according to the governor's proposed budget.

The total K-12 education budget consists of nearly $8 billion in state funding alone.

An open records request by Local 3 last month found that the Ooltewah zip code had the second-most applications in the state.
 
Republicans, with the exception of some representing more rural areas with less private school options, have largely supported the initiative, while democrats have opposed.

State Sen. Bo Watson (R), who represents portions of Hamilton County, told Local 3 at the start of the legislative session the proposed expansion would depend on the resources available.
 
State Rep. Aftyn Behn said she feels "vindicated" about her initial opposition.

"I don't know what money is going to allow the governor to expand the voucher program, but this is exactly what we said would happen," Behn said. "I don't know what money is going to allow the governor to expand the voucher program, but this is exactly what we said would happen."
 
SB 1643 by State Sen. Page Walley (R) from Savannah, which would require an annual report about the scholarship, including the household income of its recipients, is on the Senate Education Committee's calendar for Wednesday, March 11.

"We have a very tight budget, and my reading of our budget at this point is that the resources might not be there to do the expansion of degree the governor's hoping," Sen. Walley previously told Local 3. "I would be very much wanting to make sure that our citizens that had those lower incomes had equal access to this and had opportunities."