Tennessee lawmakers plan to double the school choice program despite budget crunch

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton is preparing to expand the state’s Education Freedom Scholarship program by at least 20,000 seats, potentially raising total enrollment to 40,000 students, as reported by Chalkbeat. The proposal marks a significant escalation of the taxpayer-funded initiative, which cost $144 million in its first year.

The program provides public funding for students to attend private schools , a move that has drawn sustained criticism from Democrats, who argue that expanding the program diverts resources from public schools .
High demand drives expansion plans Chalkbeat reports that the push for growth comes after Tennessee received over 42,000 applications for just 20,000 available scholarships this fall. The surge in demand has become the central argument for Republican leaders to accelerate the program’s expansion, citing parental choice and the need to meet existing demand.

The original legislation included a 5,000-seat expansion mechanism triggered if applications reached 75% of available scholarships. With this year’s applications exceeding that threshold, Republican lawmakers view the legal trigger as justification to dramatically increase enrollment.
Fiscal impact raises questionsExpanding the program could cost the state at least $600 million over the next five years, according to the figures shared by Chalkbeat. The initial five-year projections for the EFS program, factoring in the original expansion mechanism, estimated a cost of $1.1 billion. Budget analysts warn that a larger expansion could intensify fiscal pressures amid declining state revenues.

Tennessee holds significant financial reserves, but recent revenue shortfalls are expected to tighten the state budget. Legislative leaders indicate that any final expansion plan will be closely tied to next year’s budget discussions, leaving the scale of growth uncertain.
Political divide over private school fundingThe proposal has intensified partisan conflict over the state’s education priorities. Democrats argue that doubling the program before evaluating its effectiveness is reckless. They contend that public schools, which serve all children, should remain the focus of state funding, and that expanding private school vouchers risks undermining the broader education system.

Republicans defend the expansion as a response to overwhelming parental demand. The program is framed as a vehicle for educational choice, allowing families greater flexibility in selecting schools for their children.
Distribution and accessibility concernsEarly data derived from the Tennessee Department of Education indicate that the bulk of the vouchers went to urban and suburban areas, reflecting the distribution of the 220 private schools participating in the program. Religious schools dominate the recipient pool, and the program is not explicitly tracking how many vouchers are awarded to students already in private schools or students with disabilities.

While participation spans 86 of the state’s 95 counties, critics argue that the current distribution favors families who already have access to private education rather than addressing systemic gaps in public schooling.
Next stepsRepublican leaders are expected to revisit the issue when the legislature returns in 2026. The expansion could become a defining issue in state politics, pitting budgetary prudence and public school advocates against the push for broader school choice.

With growing applications and increasing political pressure, Tennessee’s private school voucher program is poised to become one of the most debated education initiatives in recent state history.

With inputs from Chalkbeat.