Now that the presidential election is over, perhaps we can focus more on state and local issues like education. In fact, the battle over school choice at the state level is expected to intensify as the modern year begins — particularly in Tennessee and other states.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the state’s Republican lawmakers introduced the Education Freedom Act of 2025 in early November. This is a proposal that would provide 20,000 vouchers worth $7,075 to families seeking alternatives to public schools.
Of course it is initiative has sparked a fierce debate between those who believe parents should be able to decide how and where their children are educated and those who see the government as the best arbiter of those decisions.
House Majority Leader William Lamberth welcomed the bill, saying it “leaves no stone unturned when it comes to providing the very best educational pathway to prepare the next generation for success.”
Lamberth also argued that the proposed legislation “gives parents – not the government – the power to make decisions about the special needs and diverse interests of their children.”
This is a proposal that Governor Lee also supports. “Every family should have the opportunity to choose the best path for their child…This is an opportunity to challenge, transform and innovate an education system that has become stale, bloated and bureaucratic,” he said Fox News.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump promised during his campaign to eliminate the Department of Education.
Democrats and public school advocates are unimpressed with the proposed measure. John Ray Clemmons, chairman of the House Minority Caucus, said: “This is offensive [Lee’s] We are trying to tie much-needed teacher bonuses and school construction funds to this scam.”
“It is remarkable to see voucher advocates continue to pursue failed policies just hours after voters in several Republican states soundly rejected vouchers on the ballot last night,” Tanya T. Coats, president of the Tennessee Education Association, said in an explanation. “Teachers will not be fooled by the promise of a small bonus in exchange for a bill that would close public schools across the state.”
Coats said Tennessee should focus on rebuilding schools in storm-ravaged parts of Northeast Tennessee rather than trying what she called an “unpopular, irresponsible, unaffordable voucher concept that never delivers on its promises and financially ruins other states.”
Still, those who believe the government is not the best authority to decide where children should receive their education see this as a potentially transformative piece of legislation.
“The timing of this bill couldn’t be better, as families across our state have already begun the school selection process for next year and these scholarships would provide opportunities for thousands of students,” said Shaka Mitchell of the American Federation for Children.
There will certainly be a lot at stake during Tennessee’s next legislative session. It could determine the course of education in the Volunteer State. Perhaps the Education Freedom Act could become a model for other states.
Indeed, there have been some heated battles over education in recent years, amid debates over the spread of progressive ideas on racism, gender identity and other issues in the classroom. School choice has been touted as a possible solution to this problem.
Advocates have advocated for education savings accounts (ESAs) and school vouchers, arguing that they give families more control over their children’s education. For example, ESAs give parents access to government-supervised versatile spending accounts that can be used for approved education expenses such as private school tuition, online courses, or tutoring.
This means that educational opportunities are no longer determined by geographical or socioeconomic restrictions. ESAs would also remove barriers created by income-based limitations. This would go a long way toward providing more opportunities for low-income families.
Of course, I would prefer a future in which the state does not concern itself with education at all. But such a scenario might not happen in the near future. However, school choice measures are a positive step in the right direction.
