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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
State Representative Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough-District 7) and Johnson City school leaders have nothing good to say about the potential expansion of Tennessee’s voucher program for private schools.
During a legislative meeting on Friday, Alexander expressed concern about the program’s expansion without examining who received the vouchers this year.
Although Alexander voted to expand the pilot voucher program from operating in three counties – Davidson, Hamilton, and Shelby counties – to statewide during the 2025 General Assembly, she says that she is hearing that many who received the financial help, did not actually need it.
Members of the Johnson City Board of Education say the lack of full transparency regarding the full roll out of the Education Freedom Act scholarships is concerning, and want to know how many families who qualified for the financial assistance were already enrolled in a private school.
One school board member, Jonathan Kinnick, suggested that lawmakers don’t want to know the answer to that question as it wasn’t included on the voucher program’s application.
Rick Smith, Board Chair, took issue with the lack of comparable testing required of private schools that accept the vouchers. Smith said that without the same standardized testing, it is “virtually impossible” to compare outcomes of a private vs public education.
A former public school educator, Alexander now appears to have had second thoughts on her vote for the bill, and is shocked that her fellow legislators are ready to tackle an expansion when the General Assembly reconvenes next month.
Alexander, who pointed out that similar programs in other states have led to financial woes, told district officials that she will oppose an expansion of the program unless more data is made available.
According to Alexander, State Representative Gary Hicks (R-Rogersville-District 9) who is employed by Hawkins County Public Schools and is Chair of the state’s Finance Committee is also not in favor of expanding the program.
General Assembly leadership is divided on their support of an increase in the program with Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge-District 5) so far unsupportive because of the impact such action would have on the state budget.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) meanwhile has stated that he wants the number of students receiving state funds doubled when lawmakers return to Nashville in January.
In July, questions were raised on both sides of the aisle when the Tennessee Department of Education would not provide basic information to lawmakers such as where students who received scholarships spent the previous year being educated or financial disclosures confirming that applicants met the income requirements.
Among some of the unintended consequences that could follow the program’s potential expansion, Alexander particularly took issue with incentivizing non-Christian schools to open and accept the scholarships.
Whether or not Alexander realizes it, several Muslim schools which embrace Sharia law are already listed on the state’s website as being eligible for receiving taxpayer dollars.
One such school is Pleasant View School in Memphis whose slogan is “Excellence in Education through Islam.”
The school’s vision is to “establish a distinguished Islamic institution in North America which develops exemplary Muslims with academic excellence” by preparing “generations of scholars with a strong Islamic identity, leadership, and academic excellence who make a positive contribution to the global community.”
Starting in PreK, students learn to “fully live a practicing Islamic lifestyle.”
Earlier this year, leaders from the tax-funded school boasted about taking more than 40 students to Nashville for a “historical Muslim Day on the Hill.” During the course of the day, school representatives and students participated in over 35 meetings with Tennessee lawmakers and officials, “ensuring [Muslim] voices were heard at the highest levels of state government.”
In November, new data showed that of 602 Hamilton County students who received a Education Freedom Scholarship, approximately 50 were used to attend a Muslim school rooted in Islamic studies.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
