Tennessee Voucher Bill Heads to House Floor

Parents in Tennessee may finally see a school voucher bill become law this session. On Tuesday, the House finance committee passed House Bill 1049 (Dunn) by a slim margin of 11-10 following a three hour hearing. Similar voucher bills passed the Senate the last two sessions, but failed to receive enough votes in key House committees. The Opportunity Scholarship program would award vouchers to low-income students attending public schools rated in the lowest five percent in the state. Unused vouchers could be awarded to students residing in districts with at least one public school rated in the lowest five percent. Agudath Israel has been an active member of a coalition that has lobbied on behalf of school choice programs in Tennessee for several years.