HB 6004 creates the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act," allowing eligible Tennessee students to use public funds for private school tuition starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It directly affects Tennessee residents in grades K-12 who attend public schools (excluding homeschool or church-related school students), prioritizing lower-income families with household income under 300% of the free/reduced lunch threshold. The program allocates up to 20,000 scholarships annually, with 10,000 reserved for qualifying low-income students and 10,000 available to all eligible applicants, using income-based criteria for allocation. Scholarships are funded through state appropriations and administered by the Tennessee Department of Education.
SB 6005 is an appropriations bill that funds Tennessee's state government operations for the 2024-2025 fiscal years. It allocates specific sums for key programs, including $225.8 million for Education Freedom Scholarships, $210 million for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, $240 million for disaster relief, and $20 million to rebuild Hampton High School in Carter County. The bill also covers expenses for the first extraordinary session of the 114th General Assembly and provides funds for tourism development and incentives for high-performing schools. These appropriations directly support state agencies, schools, and local governments by providing resources for their designated programs and operations.
SB 6001 creates the "Education Freedom Scholarship Act," allowing Tennessee parents to use public funds for private school tuition. It directly affects eligible K-12 students (excluding home/church school attendees) whose families meet income criteria or qualify under existing programs. The bill establishes a two-tiered scholarship system: 10,000 scholarships prioritize families earning ≤300% of the federal free lunch income threshold, while another 10,000 are available to all eligible students, with a 20,000 cap for the 2025-2026 school year. Scholarships follow students to approved private schools, with future caps adjusted based on application volume and available funding.
