School Vouchers - As introduced, establishes various audit and reporting requirements for the department of education and private schools that enroll recipients of an education freedom scholarship; limits eligibility for the scholarship program to students who are members of a family with an annual household income that does not exceed 300 percent of the amount required for a student to qualify for free or reduced lunch; requires scholarship recipients to be administered the same TCAP tests administered to public school students enrolled in the same grade level or course subject. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 8, Chapter 44; Title 10, Chapter 7 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Caleb Hemmer

Creates education vouchers for students from families earning up to 300% of free lunch threshold to attend private schools, requiring standardized testing and departmental audits.

Failed in s/c K-12 Subcommittee of Education Committee

#schoolvouchers

Legislative bill overview

HB 1889 establishes an education freedom scholarship program that provides vouchers to students from families earning up to 300% of the free/reduced lunch threshold to attend private schools. The bill requires participating private schools and the Department of Education to meet specific audit, reporting, and testing requirements, including administering the same standardized tests (TCAP) given to public school students.

Why is this important

This bill directly affects education funding distribution and access, potentially redirecting public education resources to private institutions while establishing accountability mechanisms. The income-based eligibility creates a targeted program affecting lower- to middle-income families and raises questions about public school enrollment and funding sustainability.

Potential points of contention

Public funding for private schools: Opponents argue vouchers divert taxpayer dollars from public education systems; supporters contend it expands parental choice and educational options

Income eligibility threshold: The 300% free/reduced lunch limit may exclude working-class families while potentially subsidizing families who could afford private school; debate over whether this targets appropriate populations

Accountability and testing requirements: Questions about whether standardized test comparisons between public and private schools are valid measures, and whether private schools should face the same regulatory burden as publicly-funded institutions