School Vouchers

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not mention private schools being affected by this bill.

School Vouchers Reporting Act

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Education to submit an annual report on the education freedom scholarship program to the state's general assembly.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the department of education to submit a yearly report about the education freedom scholarship program.
• Includes information such as the county where each student lives, their grade level, and the private school they attend in the report.
• Reports on the total state spending for the program, including administrative costs and advertising expenses.
• Ensures that personally identifiable student information is not included in the reports.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Tennessee Department of Education
• Students receiving education freedom scholarships

Terms To Know

LEA

Local Educational Agency, which refers to a public school district or other local government agency responsible for providing educational services.

General Assembly

The state legislature of Tennessee, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how the information will be used or who can access it.
• Does not address any changes to the scholarship program itself beyond reporting requirements.

Official Summary Text

Present law
authorizes the department of education to administer an education freedom scholarship program whereby scholarships are awarded to a set amount of students planning on attending certain private schools.

B
y June 1, 2026
,
for the 2025-2026 school year
,
and by October 1 for each school year thereafter
,

this bill requires the
department
to
annually report
all of
the following information about the program for the current school year to the general assembly:



The county of residence of each recipient
.


The school and, if applicable, LEA at which each recipient was enrolled at the time of submitting the scholarship application
.


The private school at which each recipient is enrolled
.


Each recipient's grade level
.


The annual household income of each recipient
.


The total state expenditures for the program, including, but not limited to
, t
hird-party contracts
, a
dministrative costs incurred by the department
, a
dvertising and marketing expenses
,
and
n
umber of scholarships awarded.

However, the
report must not include personally identifiable information of students.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1544
By Barrett

SENATE BILL 1643
By Walley
SB1643
008811
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to reporting for the education freedom
scholarship program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 35, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) The department shall annually report the following information about the
program for the current school year to the general assembly:
(1) The county of residence of each recipient;
(2) The school and, if applicable, LEA at which each recipient was
enrolled at the time of submitting the scholarship application;
(3) The private school at which each recipient is enrolled;
(4) Each recipient's grade level;
(5) The annual household income of each recipient; and
(6) The total state expenditures for the program, including, but not limited
to:
(A) Third-party contracts;
(B) Administrative costs incurred by the department;
(C) Advertising and marketing expenses; and
(D) Number of scholarships awarded.
(b) The department shall submit the report required in subsection (a) to the
general assembly by June 1, 2026, for the 2025-2026 school year and by October 1 for
each school year thereafter.

- 2 - 008811

(c) The report must not include personally identifiable information of students.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.