It’s February. So We Must Be Talking Vouchers Again.

Indeed we are.

The Tennessee General Assembly is back in session, which means the annual ritual has begun: speeches about freedom, press releases about satisfaction, hand-wringing about accountability, and somewhere in the middle of it all—actual children trying to learn algebra.

As of February 11, more than 56,000 applications have been submitted for Tennessee’s taxpayer-funded private school voucher program—officially called Education Freedom Scholarships—for the 2026–27 school year.

About a third of those are families reapplying.

That number feels a little low to me, considering the amount of time Governor Bill Lee spends telling people about parental satisfaction—but what do I know.

Last year—the first year of the program—saw 43,000 applicants. That means roughly 16,000 additional applications year over year.

Growth? Yes.
Demand that wildly outpaces supply? Also yes.

Because state law currently provides 20,000 scholarships, each worth $7,295.

Half are reserved for families meeting income thresholds or specific criteria. The other half have no income restrictions.

“Interest in the Tennessee EFS Program has remained strong across the state in its second year,” Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds said in a TDOE press release. “Families are making thoughtful decisions about their children’s education, exploring a variety of options to ensure every child can find the best fit for a unique academic journey.”

Applicants came from 94 of 95 counties.
There are currently 256 private schools across 41 counties registered to receive scholarship students.

Governor Lee has made it clear he would like to double the number of scholarships.

Not everyone is eager.

“I think a lot depends on where we see the state’s economy is headed, where revenue is headed,” Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said following the State of the State. “But certainly there is a great deal of value in increasing the number of students that are able to take the freedom scholarships.”

Translation: We like the idea. We’re watching the money.

And that’s where the wrinkles begin.

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The Data Question No One Wants to Answer

Voucher critics continue to raise one persistent issue: transparency.

This week in the House, Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) introduced HB 1052, which would have required the State Comptroller to produce an annual report on Education Freedom Scholarship participants.

One key data point:
How many students receiving vouchers were enrolled in public schools the previous year?

Are we moving students from public to private?
Or subsidizing families already in private education?

Chairman Mark White (R-Memphis) questioned why the Comptroller’s office—not the Tennessee Department of Education—should compile the report.

McKenzie referenced the Comptroller’s reputation for thoroughness.

When asked whether he had approached TDOE about producing the data, McKenzie replied that in the past he had—“but they didn’t seem very interested.”

That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement.

Representative William Slater (R-Gallatin) raised concerns that the bill required reporting data not explicitly mandated by statute. McKenzie argued the Department likely already possesses the data—it just isn’t shared publicly.

The bill failed 2–5.

The conversation won’t.

Because accountability without data isn’t accountability.

It’s branding.

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If You Want Accountability… Who Pays for the Test?

Currently, private schools accepting Education Freedom Scholarships are not required to administer Tennessee’s TCAP assessment.

They must administer some standardized assessment—but not the state’s.

There is momentum this session to change that.

Governor Lee has signaled openness to accountability adjustments.

But here’s the question no one seems eager to answer:

Who pays?

Tennessee spends between $30–$40 million annually on statewide testing.

That includes:

• Field testing

• Retesting

• Alternative assessments

• NAEP coordination

• State oversight staff

• District tech upgrades

Some analysts estimate the true all-in cost exceeds $40 million.

If voucher participation climbs toward 40,000 students, adding them to TCAP could raise costs by roughly $2 million.

Not enormous in a state budget.

Until you’re the one writing the check.

Another wrinkle.
In a program already full of wrinkles.

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Snow Days, Storms, and TCAP Windows

Professional Educators of Tennessee CEO JC Bowman recently raised concerns about TCAP timing after winter storms closed some districts for nearly ten days.

In a letter to Commissioner Reynolds, Bowman wrote:

“Many schools and districts have struggled to maintain consistent instructional time, which is crucial for preparing students for high-stakes assessments like the TCAP. There is growing concern… about the fairness and validity of the TCAP tests, given the lost instructional time.”

He requested flexibility in testing windows.

Not everyone agreed.

One commenter wrote:

“Your concerns are not necessary. There is already a pretty large test window…”

Another:

“It seems that now they are just made to collect data and have meetings about said data.”

Yikes.

The Commissioner indicated the state is reviewing timelines.

In the wake of Nashville’s storm, MNPS rushed to reopen schools, concerned the district would exceed its allotted snow days and be forced to alter the calendar.

Meanwhile, Memphis-Shelby County Schools missed ten days after the January 24 ice storm—and received a waiver.

MSCS said it met criteria “due to the storm’s widespread effects and the district’s exhaustion of stockpile days.” The waiver covered closures from January 26 through January 30.

“These closures were necessary due to hazardous conditions caused by a significant winter ice storm,” MSCS said. “The waiver fully covers the five affected dates and affirms that no additional instructional time will be required.”

Memphis had outages. Nashville had week-long gridlock.

Back in Nashville, a teacher in-service day was converted to a full instructional day.

Same state.
Different storms.
Different administrative outcomes.

And looming over all of it?
A high-stakes testing calendar.

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The Accountability Hearings

Last year, lawmakers passed a new law requiring certain districts to attend state accountability hearings based on D and F letter grades.

For MNPS:

2023–24

• 9 F schools

• 33 D schools

2024–25

• 10 F schools

• 39 D schools

That’s 49 schools in the D/F band—roughly one-third of the district’s graded campuses.

Nashville is statistically aligned with Memphis in overall D/F concentration—but Memphis still carries nearly double the F concentration.

The hearing board includes Tennessee Board of Education members Darrell Cobbins, Robert Eby, and Ina Maxwell.

MNPS Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle will appear March 23 at 12:45 p.m.

The law requires attendance from:

• The Director of Schools

• The School Board Chair

• The Chief Academic Officer

• The Chief Financial Officer

The hearing could result in a corrective action plan—or, if problems persist, a formal audit.

During a recent Education Committee meeting, Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) questioned whether Knoxville should face a hearing when only 1 of 93 schools received an F.

Board member Robert Eby responded that the goal is zero F schools.

Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) noted that because students are zoned, you cannot dismiss a failing campus simply because the district overall performs well.

Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) asked:

“Has there ever been a failing school in a wealthy district?”

She used the question to advocate for wraparound services and poverty mitigation.

Sara Morrison, Executive Director of the Tennessee Board of Education, noted these hearings are tied to TISA funding reforms. Districts are receiving more money, and lawmakers want to see how it is being allocated.

March 23 will be an important test—not just for MNPS, but for how evenly Tennessee applies the word “accountability.”

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What Accountability Actually Means

Here’s the uncomfortable question:

Who is accountability for?

Public schools are graded.
Public schools attend hearings.
Public schools are audited.
Public schools administer TCAP.

Voucher schools accept public dollars—but operate under different rules.

Once public money enters the equation, the conversation changes.

If we double scholarships, we’re building a parallel publicly funded education system.

Parallel systems require parallel transparency.

You cannot label a neighborhood school an “F” in bold letters and decline to measure outcomes in the alternative system funded with the same tax dollars.

You cannot run a public program on vibes.

Accountability without comparability isn’t accountability.

It’s marketing.

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Nashville and Memphis: A Tale of Two Trends

Nashville is swelling in D’s.
Memphis carries more F’s.

Different compositions. Similar overall bottom-tier rates.

But politically, Nashville walking into an accountability hearing with one-third of its schools in D/F territory is combustible.

The capital city under formal review.

In this legislative climate, that won’t be ignored.

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This isn’t corporate media. There’s no team. No budget. No handlers.

It’s just me—trying to keep up, trying to keep you informed, and trying to say what others won’t.

If you value that work:

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Until next time:

Accountability begins with accuracy—and with listening to the people closest to the work.

Safe wins get applause.
Real leadership gets results.

Nashville deserves more of the latter.