Georgia Rejects Vouchers — Will Tennessee Follow Suit?

School privatization on the agenda in the final days of the Volunteer State’s legislative session

Photo by Nati Melnychuk on Unsplash

Tennessee lawmakers appear determined to expand vouchers to both Chattanooga and Knoxville this year. In fact, the Senate has already passed legislation expanding the state’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program to Chattanooga at the request of Hamilton County state Senator Todd Gardenhire. Now, the House may add Knox County to the voucher expansion and send the plan back to the Senate.

Meanwhile, Georgia lawmakers recently rejected a voucher plan.

More from The Education Report:

So, it’s encouraging to see Republicans in a Southeastern state say NO to vouchers. Which is what just happened in Georgia.

The legislature there just rejected a voucher expansion plan — with most Democrats and a handful of rural Republicans voting no.

Why would rural lawmakers oppose vouchers? Because local taxpayers don’t want to be stuck with the fiscal impact of supporting TWO school systems.

And that’s exactly what happens when public money supports private schools by way of vouchers — or even charter schools.