Lee says constitutional carry not a problem in Memphis, voucher bill to return
Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday, May 7, the ability to open carry firearms — and “constitutional rights” — are not the issue when it comes to Memphis and Shelby County crime.
There are 41 article(s) tagged School vouchers:
Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday, May 7, the ability to open carry firearms — and “constitutional rights” — are not the issue when it comes to Memphis and Shelby County crime.
Tenn. Gov. Bill Lee campaigned on vouchers in both 2018 and 2022, but the bill’s chances of becoming law appeared in jeopardy last week. Lawmakers questioned the cost, the effect on private schools and the changing nature of the legislation.
Even with the budget approved in the House and Senate, lawmakers still remained divided on whether they’ll advance any proposal to spend vastly more public money to send students to private schools throughout the state.
Both resolutions are not binding and have little effect, but they express the body’s political will at a time when many members feel Shelby County’s autonomy is under threat from the Tennessee General Assembly.
A legal challenge to Tennessee’s private school voucher law is back on track after a state appeals court ruled that a lower court erred in dismissing the case.
Memphis’ homicide rate, school vouchers and passenger rail were among the topics discussed on this week’s “Behind The Headlines.”
Suburban school districts have come out swiftly and strongly against Gov. Lee’s expansion of the state’s education voucher program.
State lawmakers narrowly approved the so-called education savings accounts initiative for the three counties in 2019.
Tennessee Senate lawmakers approved the expansion of an education voucher program, currently just for Shelby and Davidson Counties, that allows public tax dollars to be given to families to pay for private schooling to Hamilton County.
The Tennessee Attorney General’s office asked a Nashville court to dismiss the case, saying the counties had lost all their relevant arguments.
With the implementation of the Education Savings Account Program, families in Shelby County can receive nearly $8,200 toward tuition, fees and transportation to attend Catholic schools.
The Tennessee Department of Education said Thursday, Aug. 25, that it is still waiting to approve three schools but that they all have a “pathway to eligibility.” Opinion: School vouchers undermine public education Opinion: Education Savings Accounts give important choices to familiesRelated stories:
Since an injunction was lifted last month, the state has been working to make taxpayer-funded private school vouchers available by the time class starts — which in Shelby County is Monday, Aug. 8.
Lee said Friday, July 29, at Knowledge Quest’s Teen Tech Center that more than 2,000 families in Memphis and Nashville have applied for school vouchers and 40 schools have expressed interest in accepting those vouchers.
Guest columnist Warner Davis says “while using tax dollars for private schools is questionable, and diverting resources from public schools objectionable, providing a good education to every American child is applaudable.”
“Starting today, we will work to help eligible parents enroll this school year,” Gov. Bill Lee said, “as we ensure Tennessee families have the opportunity to choose the school that they believe is best for their child.”
The Tennessee Supreme Court recently approved the Education Savings Account Act. You say education savings accounts, I say vouchers. You say tomato, I say tomato. Rotten tomato.
“Democrat or Republican, there is no justification, no possible excuse, for what the puppet governor and the Tennessee General Assembly jerking his strings are doing to the children of our state and to our future.”
In her recusal, Sarah Campbell cited a rule that says, “A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.”
The debate over whether to use tax dollars to send children to private schools has reared its head.
‘The point is not to determine the merits of public education versus private education. Why can’t we champion both?’
Kelsey, who represents Germantown, Cordova and East Memphis. will serve as chairman of the senate education committee.
Metro Nashville and Shelby County challenged the law because it applies only to their communities without giving their local governments or voters a say.
‘The cries that the ESA program will gut classroom funding and leave the most vulnerable students with fewer resources is antithetical to both the purpose and benefits of the ESA program.’
In one of the legislature’s most high-profile races, Jerri Green is considered a serious challenger to Republican Rep. Mark White, chairman of the House Education Committee. They are polar opposites on the issue of vouchers.
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