Rural Republican Lawmakers Negotiate With Governor To Protect Against Possible Negative ESA Impact

As momentum builds in the House builds for the Governor’s proposed Education Savings Account legislation, rural Republican leaders are taking steps to safeguard their communities from unintended financial consequences related to House Bill 939.

During discussions and negotiations with the Governor, these members were able to include an amendment to House Bill 939 that guarantees the proposed ESA pilot program is strictly limited to just four Tennessee counties — Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Shelby Counties and will be capped at 30,000 students. These school districts have been historically recognized in the bottom 10 percent of all schools in the state and across our country.

The House Finance, Ways and Means Committee passed House Bill 939 this week, which will give Tennessee’s poorest children in the worst schools a fighting chance at a high-quality education.