CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Tennessee legislature’s Jan. 30 vote to approve school vouchers with the Education Freedom Act (EFA) divided the Montgomery County delegation. In the state House, it was approved 54-44-1, and in the Senate 20-13. Montgomery County’s legislators were divided 2-2, with Rep. Aron Maberry and Sen. Bill Powers voting for it and Reps. Jeff Burkhart and Ronnie Glynn voting against.

Following the passing of this bill, the four local representatives shared their perspectives and reactions to this new legislation.

What is EFA?

The EFA, proposed by Gov. Bill Lee, is built on the concept of school choice, designed to create education savings accounts (ESAs), or school vouchers, that allow families to use public funds to pay for tuition at a private school, including religious schools. It is entirely state-funded.

For the 2024-25 school year, a total of 20,000 scholarships ($7,075 per student) will be awarded to families on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • 10,000 scholarships are reserved for students whose family income is no more than 300% of the free/reduced lunch eligibility level, or who qualify under certain special programs.
  • 10,000 scholarships are available to any eligible student regardless of income or special programs.

Opponents argue that amount only covers about half the cost of tuition at most private schools, while advocates say private schools will likely make up the difference with their own scholarships where needed.

Other provisions have been added to provide money for public school teachers and buildings.

Voting for vouchers

Maberry, a Republican from District 68, was a co-sponsor for the House bill. “I do like to say that every time I hear the word ‘voucher,’ it’s not a voucher,” Maberry told Clarksville Now. “It’s an education scholarship bill.”

He explained that the EFA isn’t just for scholarships, but a bill for public schools as well. “I actually like to say, if you remove the scholarship element from the EFA act, then it’s actually a pretty great public education bill. Add in the education scholarship? It’s an excellent education bill.”

Maberry, also a member of the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board, added that the bill has a “hold-harmless provision” to protect local school district funding if enrollment declines. Using CMCSS as an example, Maberry said, “Hold harmless is in perpetuity, meaning it will stay at the height of the enrollment. … If we (CMCSS) are at 40,000 (enrollment) and in four years we’re at 37,000 and declining every year from there, we’re going to continue to get funding at that 40,000.”

MORE: Rep. Maberry on school vouchers: Education freedom in Tennessee is win for all students | OPINION

Powers, a Republican whose District 22 covers most of the county, also voted in favor. He shared his thoughts on the bill in a social media post, saying that 98% of Tennessee students will not experience any changes from this.

“Although I am not enamored with parts of this bill, I do feel it is a step in the right direction,” Powers said. “People of means move where the best schools are. Wealthy families send their children to private schools. This bill is for the rest of the parents and kids who want a better fit, but don’t have financial standing. They should be our priority.”

Powers emphasized that half of the scholarships are for households at poverty levels. “I don’t feel that it’s right to deny mobility to a deserving student. Our state will be better served as a result.”

Voting against vouchers

Glynn, a Democrat from District 67, joined most of the rest of his party in voting against the EFA bill. “They call it ‘education scholarship,'” he told Clarksville Now. “The problem with that is when you actually get a scholarship from college, that’s not taxpayer dollars; that’s school dollars. It’s a play on words.”

Glynn explained that when the bill was originally introduced in 2022-23, it didn’t have the hold-harmless clause. But even with the hold-harmless clause now, Glynn said people still don’t understand what exactly that means.

As an example, he said imagine there are 10 students in a public school and three go to private schools on the EFA scholarship. For the first year, the public school will still be funded for all 10 students even though three of them are gone. However, Glynn said, this is where the state is losing money since it is paying for two systems, essentially spending $14,000 on one student.

“Those three students decide to stay at the private institution,” Glynn said. “You’re only going to get funded in the second year for the seven students.”

MORE: Letter: Public funds for private schools is losing proposition for communities | OPINION

Burkhart of District 75, was one of 20 House Republicans who voted against the EFA. “I simply voted what my constituents wanted,” he told Clarksville Now. “Based on the people I spoke to and the emails I got, it was overwhelming that they were not for this, and it’s as simple as that. I try to vote what my constituents want, and that’s how you’re supposed to vote.”

He said the school vouchers aren’t needed in Montgomery County.

“If you break it (EFA) down, based on our number of students, about 80 students in Montgomery County would be eligible,” he said. “We already have school choice in Montgomery County. … It’s my understanding that, as long as there is an opening, you can put in an application to go to a different school.”

Burkhart said on one side of the bill there are people who see a nightmare scenario, and on the other side are the optimists. “I think only time will tell us which one is right.”

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