Dec 18, 2024 Story by: Editor
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Despite being voted down by state lawmakers last session, a new school voucher bill has resurfaced in Tennessee.
On Wednesday, the Knoxville NAACP sent a letter to the Tennessee General Assembly urging state senators and representatives from Knox County to oppose the bill.
“We see this House Bill One and Senate Bill One as a threat to the resilience, strength, and overall resources of our public schools,” said Reverend Sam Brown, President of the Knoxville NAACP.
Filed last month, the bill known as the Education Freedom Act of 2025 has drawn criticism from the NAACP, which argues that its passage would harm public schools.
“I think it’s a weak argument to say that we need to give students and their families more options when we are a state that already grossly underfunded our public school system,” Brown added.
Though the letter was addressed to Knox County lawmakers, some have already voiced their opposition.
“This is a bipartisan bad bill,” said Rep. Sam McKenzie, who represents District 15 in Knox County. “I’m asking my constituents in Knox County not to support this bill. Further, I’m urging our superintendent, John Rysewyk, to send a letter similar to the one the NAACP wrote.”
However, there are supporters of Governor Bill Lee’s voucher initiative.
“I don’t feel that a child should be relegated to attend a failing school simply because they live in a certain zip code,” said Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally.
This marks the second time Governor Lee has introduced the bill, and he remains optimistic that his voucher plan will succeed this legislative session.
“This year, I’m talking to candidates about education, freedom, and choice for parents,” Lee said earlier this year. “I want to know where new candidates stand on this issue because it’s so important to me.”
Knox County School Board member Katherine Bike believes that the focus should be on strengthening public schools.
“I don’t know that there’s a private school out there that can really compete with what our public schools have to offer,” Bike said. “I think it’s this idea that because they’re private, they’re better.”
The NAACP also invited local lawmakers to join a discussion about the voucher bill during their Moral Monday Rally at the Logan Temple A.M.E. Zion Church. Source: 6 News
