GOP push to expand Tennessee voucher program to 40K students clears first hurdle

By , Chalkbeat Tennessee Updated: March 10, 2026 3:54 PM CT | Published: March 10, 2026 3:53 PM CT
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Chalkbeat Tennessee

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

Tennessee would spend around $303 million next school year to fund private school tuition costs for 40,000 students if Gov. Bill Lee’s proposal is successful.

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Bill Lee Education Freedom Scholarship Tennessee voucher program Chalkbeat Tennessee
In partnership with
Chalkbeat Tennessee

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

Melissa Brown

Melissa Brown

Melissa Brown is the Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat Tennessee. She joined Chalkbeat from The Tennessean, where she covered state politics and government policy. Melissa is an Alabama native who grew up on military bases in Japan and England before graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in journalism.


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