Today, Ryan Mahoney, Senior Legislative Director for ExcelinEd in Action, issued the following statement on Governor Bill Lee’s support for Education Scholarship Accounts and charter schools in his first State of the State address and budget.
“The more opportunity a family has in finding the right educational fit for their child, the more likely they are to succeed in school and in life. By prioritizing Education Scholarship Accounts and increasing funds for quality public charter schools in the great state of Tennessee, Governor Lee has shown that students will rightfully be a priority of his administration.
“We at ExcelinEd in Action appreciate the hard-working state leaders who are focused on student-centered policies, including Governor Lee, Lt. Governor Randy McNally, House Speaker Glen Casada, Speaker Pro Tem Bill Dunn, House Education Chair Mark White and Senate Education Chair Dolores Gresham.
Education Scholarship Accounts have been applauded as an innovative way to bring student-centered customization to K-12 education in five states.
With an ESA, parents are able to direct education funding for their child to the schools, courses, programs and services of their choice, including school tuition, curriculum, tutoring, testing, and therapies for students with learning disabilities.
Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that have the freedom to meet the unique needs of their students, allowing communities to solve local problems and providing families with high-quality alternatives.
Charters operate under a performance contract with a district, state or other approved entity. They can serve students through a specific focus—such as STEM education, the arts or language immersion—as well as a unique teaching style—such as project-based learning, classical education or blended learning.
For more on the power of Education Scholarship Accounts and charter schools, visit the ExcelinEd policy library.
