Gov. Bill Lee will call a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly to address school vouchers and disaster relief, among other topics.
The governor announced on social media that he will call for a special session on Jan. 27 to pass his “Education Freedom Act,” which would expand school voucher programs in specific counties statewide and approve further disaster relief for those affected by Hurricane Helene last November.
In his announcement, he said the special session will also address illegal immigration public safety measures to ensure TN stands ready to support the Trump Administration on Day One.
Democrats lambasted the governor for tying the hurricane relief to the voucher push.
The Education Freedom Act of 2025 includes:
• 20,000 scholarships for Tennessee students starting in the 2025-26 school year. 10,000 are reserved for students at or below 300% of income qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, have a disability, or are eligible for the existing ESA program.
• Ensures state funding to school districts will never decrease due to disenrollment
• Scholarship amounts equal to the per pupil base funds allocated to public school students each
year - $7,075 as of the most recent school year. Funds will be deposited into an account for tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses.
• 350+ private schools eligible to voluntarily receive Education Freedom Scholarships as Category
I-III schools. Schools will maintain their independence and educational freedom, preventing
unnecessary government overreach while expanding school choice for families
• 5,000 additional scholarships with universal eligibility added each year after 75% of the total
scholarships are taken in the prior year to ensure controlled, fiscally responsible program growth.
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