
The recent passage of the Orwellian-named Education Freedom Act in Tennessee is not just a misguided policy decision; it's a moral failure that betrays our children and exploits the suffering of flood victims. This voucher scam, championed by Governor Bill Lee, will divert public tax dollars away from our neighborhood schools into private academies that are unaccountable to taxpayers and not required to serve all students.
Let's be clear: this is not about educational freedom. It's about creating a giant, new entitlement program that uses our public tax dollars to subsidize private school tuition for wealthy families who are already enrolled in private schools.
The cruelty of this act is compounded by its callous treatment of flood victims in East Tennessee. In a shocking display of political maneuvering, $6 million in flood relief funding was stripped away from communities desperately in need–all because their legislators dared to vote against this voucher scam. This is not governance; it's extortion.
Consider the children who will be left behind. Students with disabilities, those at risk of not graduating, and children from low-income families will be hurt the most. Private schools can reject students for any reason–religion, test scores, disabilities, or simply because they aren't "the right fit." These vulnerable students will face the harshest consequences as we divert public school dollars to private institutions.
The financial implications are staggering. Governor Lee's voucher scam will cost over $400 million in its first year alone, with projections showing hundreds of millions in additional costs each year as more private school families sign up for this taxpayer-funded subsidy. We need only look to Arizona and Florida to see the devastating impact of such policies. Their universal voucher program has blown a massive hole in their state budgets, forcing deep cuts to critical state programs that affect average families. Is this the future we want for Tennessee?
Moreover, the existing voucher pilot program in three Tennessee counties has already produced dismal results. State data shows that voucher recipients trail their public school peers by 12 points in English Language Arts and 15 points in math. Why expand a program that's failing our children?
This reckless spending will inevitably lead to larger class sizes, lower teacher pay, and cuts to essential programs in our public schools and throughout our state government. At a time when Tennessee ranks 45th in the nation for per-pupil funding, how can we justify siphoning money away from the 91% of Tennessee children who attend public schools?
We must continue to stand united against this assault on public education and the cynical exploitation of disaster victims. Our children deserve better. Our communities deserve better. It's time to recommit to fully funding our public schools–the cornerstone of our democracy and the key to a brighter future for all Tennessee children.
Despite the “R” next to their names on the ballot, anyone who thinks that Republicans are in charge are kidding themselves. The modern-day Republican party has been hijacked by oligarchs, plutocrats, and kleptocrats. As we approach future elections, it's crucial to remember the importance of checks and balances in our government. A thriving democracy needs input from both major political parties. By voting for Democrats, we can ensure a more balanced approach to education policy, one that prioritizes the needs of all Tennessee children over the interests of wealthy private school families and dark money special interests. This betrayal of Tennessee’s children and flood victims would not have been possible without a Republican supermajority in our state government.
Mike Stein
Chair, Coffee County Democratic Party
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