As Governor Lee moves forward with the Education Freedom Act, I question how establishing a new incentive program for private schools will strengthen our public schools. Parents in Tennessee already have a variety of school options, including public, private, charter, and homeschooling. 

Proponents of education savings accounts, or vouchers, state they provide pathways for parents to enroll their children in otherwise unaffordable private schools. Why do parents prefer private schools, and what can we do to strengthen public schools? The answers to those questions vary from family to family. Many choose private schools for religious reasons. I understand and applaud families who make that choice. 

In public schools, the separation between church and state is well-defined, which limits the sharing of religious beliefs and activities. Many families opt for private schools based on the type of environment they want for their children. Public schools, on the other hand, enroll all students, while private schools can be selective in their admissions. This situation highlights the concept of "school choice" rather than "parental choice." Should public tax dollars be used to fund schools that have the ability to select which students they accept?

A reality for public schools is funding affects the quality of education. Schools in more affluent areas have programs and offer opportunities not available in less affluent areas. Buildings are in better condition, the learning environment is more vibrant, and expectations are higher. In more affluent areas, parents tend to have flexible jobs, allowing them to be more active in their child's education. Oftentimes, in rural areas and areas with higher poverty rates, a parent's work schedule is less forgiving. They depend more on public schools to provide transportation and educational opportunities so their children will have more opportunities than they have. Schools in higher poverty areas require more public funding to offer similar opportunities and meet students' learning needs.  

The state has invested unprecedented amounts of money into our public schools in recent years. While the influx of state funds into the public school system is appreciated, public school funding remains lacking. We need an additional $2,000,000 for Putnam County to raise the starting teacher salary to $50,000 yearly. In addition to teacher salaries, to meet the recommended ASCA ratio for school counselors, we need $1,000,000. For school psychologists, we need $1,200,000 and $1,000,000 for social workers. For building maintenance and facilities, $3,000,000 more is required to meet national personnel and facility upkeep recommendations. New curriculum materials and professional development for teachers need an additional $2,000,000 annually. Our current PreK funding requires approximately $3,000,000 from local funding. I question beginning a new education program when we have so many needs in our public school system. 

Our students are benefiting from increased funding, which we use to provide better educational resources and expand learning opportunities outside the classroom. Proponents of vouchers argue that the state should not continue investing in a broken or failing system. However, our system is neither broken nor failing. The standardized test results often cited claim that third graders are reading below grade level reflect much more than actual reading ability. The proficiency standards in Tennessee are extremely high and do not necessarily align with grade-level learning.

Furthermore, the data suggesting that public schools are failing compares student performance across different demographics without considering factors such as socioeconomic background, learning ability or disabilities, and immigration status. In the public school system, we test all students, not just the highest achievers. We accept and educate every student.

The state utilizes standardized tests and data from these assessments to portray public schools as failing. However, they do not require voucher recipients to adhere to the same accountability standards. Public schools administer numerous state and federally mandated tests to ensure accountability. Shouldn't taxpayers expect the same level of accountability from any school that receives tax dollars? 

Governor Lee talks about education changing the trajectory of a child's life. I agree with him and see that happening in our public schools daily. Public schools did that for me. I grew up in a family where my mom and dad both worked long hours so we would have opportunities to do more things and see more of the world beyond our community. My parents, and most parents I know in our community, worked hard, supported our schools, expected us to do our part studying, and depended on the schools to do their part to provide a foundation for success when we graduated. The public schools did precisely that. They prepared us for life after high school. My sister and I chose the college route and have enjoyed successful careers. After high school, my brother joined the workforce and has enjoyed a successful career. The work ethic instilled in us by our parents is an unmistakable part of our success, as are the public schools we attended. Public schools in Tennessee offer more opportunities today than they did in the mid-1990s, and as a result, our children have more opportunities than we had when we left high school. For that reason, and so many more, I am thankful for our public school system and continue supporting it so that others will have even more opportunities than me.