School voucher expansion advances in committees as accountability efforts fail

Jody Barrett.jpg — Rep. Jody Barrett (left) speaks with Rep. Monty Fritts on the House floor, Feb. 23, 2026
Photo: Hamilton Matthew Masters

While the Republican-led effort to expand the state’s school voucher program moved forward in the Tennessee General Assembly this week, legislation to increase data and accountability surrounding the program failed.

The current proposal comes as a bill that would double the amount of school vouchers, known as “Education Freedom Scholarships." This would increase the number of available scholarships to 40,000 for the 2026-27 school year.

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State government

School voucher expansion advances in committees as accountability efforts fail

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Julianne Akers

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