In a second push for school vouchers, Governor Bill Lee announces the Education Freedom Act of 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – In a press release, Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee majority leaders announced the Education Freedom Act of 2025 Wednesday morning.

Governor Lee calls the new legislation a launching pad for a “new era of student success.”

House and Senate Bill 1 establishes a statewide school choice system that, Governor Lee says, will allow every Tennessee family to choose the educational path that best suits their child’s needs.

Here’s what the Education Freedom Act means:

20,000 scholarships for Tennessee students beginning in the 2025-2026 school year
Scholarships are equal to the base per-pupil funds allocated to public school students each year
An additional 5,000 scholarships with universal eligibility are added each year after 75% of the total scholarships have been received in the previous year
Ensure that state funding to school districts does not decrease due to disenrollment
More than 350 private schools are eligible to voluntarily receive Education Freedom Scholarships as Category I-III schools
$2,000 bonus for every teacher in the state
80% of all sports betting dollars are spent building and maintaining K-12 public school facilities

“For more than a year, I have worked with the General Assembly to introduce a unified school choice plan that gives parents more power when it comes to their children’s education and further invests in Tennessee’s public schools and teachers,” said Governor Bill Lee in a speech. statement. “Every child deserves an opportunity for success, regardless of income or zip code, and I look forward to making this promise a reality with the Education Freedom Act.”

The next legislative term starts on January 14, 2025.