{"id":2454222,"date":"2025-07-01T11:36:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T15:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-concern-raised-about-education-freedom-scholarships-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T11:37:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T15:37:14","slug":"new-concern-raised-about-education-freedom-scholarships-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-concern-raised-about-education-freedom-scholarships-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"New concern raised about Education Freedom Scholarships &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-concern-raised-about-education-freedom-scholarships-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2454222&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A new concern has emerged regarding Tennessee&#8217;s Education Freedom Scholarship program, which provides $7,295 scholarships for families to attend private schools. Republican Rep. Jody barrett, who opposed the scholarship law, has raised issues about the lack of data on students&#8217; previous enrollment and whether the program is genuinely aiding students from failing public schools. He criticized the state&#8217;s decision to omit this data, asserting that taxpayers deserve transparency regarding the program&#8217;s effectiveness.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Barrett questioned the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nasa-accuses-china-of-failing-to-clean-up-space-junk-after-rocket-careens-back-to-earth\/\" title=\"NASA Accuses China Of Failing To Clean Up Space Junk After Rocket Careens Back To Earth\">long-term sustainability<\/a> and overall costs of the scholarship system, projecting that it could reach over a quarter of a billion dollars annually when maintenance and oversight expenses are considered.He recommended alternatives, such as tax credits and expanding a college savings plan for all parents, rather than limiting support to a select number of students through scholarships.<\/p>\n<p>The scholarships,which commence in the 2025-26 school year,are popular among parents,with 38,000 applications received. The state has allocated $144 million for the first year. However, there are concerns that many vouchers may predominantly benefit families already enrolled in private schools. Barrett&#8217;s concerns echo criticisms from Democrats, who label the program as a subsidy for wealthier families while public schools suffer.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">New concern raised about Education Freedom Scholarships<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2163225\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square)&nbsp;&ndash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tennessee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Tennessee<\/a> Republican Rep. Jody Barrett didn&rsquo;t vote with his party when the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/education\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Education<\/a> Freedom Scholarship passed, and now that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-legislatures\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">bill<\/a> is officially law, he said he has more concerns.<\/p>\n<p>The 20,000 scholarships, which Barrett and Democrats call &ldquo;vouchers,&rdquo; give families $7,295 to attend the private school of their choice. The bill passed during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-legislators-commence-special-session\/\" title=\"Texas legislators commence special session\">special session called<\/a> by Republican Gov. Bill Lee in January that Barrett said cost $1 billion. Seven Senate Republicans and 20 Republican House members, including Barrett, voted against it.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3459214\/trump-big-beautiful-bill-july-4-deadline\/\">Trump appears open to extending &#8216;beautiful&#8217; bill beyond July 4 deadline<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3459203\/republican-deal-to-limit-ai-regulations-in-gop-megabill-falls-apart\/\">Republican deal to limit AI regulations in GOP megabill falls apart<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3459292\/senate-gop-hopeful-one-big-beautiful-bill-done-vance-tiebreaker\/\">Senate GOP hopeful they can finally get &#8216;big, beautiful bill&#8217; over the line with Vance tiebreaker<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The program begins with the 2025-26 school year. The application period ended June 18 and the program is highly popular with Tennessee parents, Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds previously said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The demand for universal school choice in Tennessee is strong, and families are embracing the freedom they have been provided through the Education Freedom Scholarship Program,&rdquo; Reynolds said. &ldquo;All students deserve the ability to access a learning environment that best fits their unique needs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The state set aside $144 million for the first year of the scholarship program.<\/p>\n<p>Now that the scholarships are law, Barrett has a new concern. He said the state is not collecting data as to where the students were previously enrolled, raising questions about whether the scholarships are helping students move to a better school, as was touted by Republican leaders.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Department of Education has intentionally, I think, omitted that question or that data point so they don&rsquo;t have to answer that question or that data point so they don&rsquo;t have to answer that question from members of the Legislature or the media or the public as to where this money is going and if it&rsquo;s actually providing, any &lsquo;educational freedom&rsquo; to the kids that are &lsquo;trapped in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-indiana-students-are-flocking-to-private-schools-homeschooling\/\" title=\"Report: Indiana ... Are Flocking To ...s, Home...ing\">failing public school<\/a>,&#8217;&rdquo; Barrett said. &ldquo;Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going and whether this program is doing what it promised, not just writing blank checks.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Barrett has raised questions about the long-term sustainability of the program since it was introduced.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got this big airplane and you&rsquo;ve got to get it in the air,&rdquo; Barrett said. &ldquo;Once you get that big airplane in the sky, in order to keep it in the air, the actual costs, we know of $144 million for the vouchers themselves but that&rsquo;s if we don&rsquo;t raise the costs of the vouchers. But you also have the maintenance cost, the oversight of the program itself, the additional salaries and &hellip; we&rsquo;re paying some third party to oversee the money. It&rsquo;s really a quarter of a billion a year without increasing the number of scholarships.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Barrett said there is another way to help parents with education, tuition or homeschool expenses. President Donald Trump has talked about a tax credit and an expansion of a college scholarship savings plan called 529 to help parents of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >school-age children put<\/a> aside pre-tax money for education expenses, he said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Those are things that are universal,&rdquo; Barrett said. &ldquo;Those are things that can actually be used and applied and taken advantage of by every parent. It&rsquo;s not just limited to 20,000 students that may or may not get selected out of the lottery pool to get these vouchers that are being offered by the governor.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Barrett&rsquo;s admits his comments are a lot like concerns coming from Democrats. The scholarships are ranked at the top of a list compiled by the Senate Democratic Caucus of the state&rsquo;s 11 worst laws of 2025.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Despite claims of &lsquo;universal access,&rsquo; the truth is the majority of vouchers will go to families already enrolled in private schools, families who are more likely to be wealthy,&rdquo; a spokesman for the caucus said. &ldquo;This is a massive, taxpayer-funded subsidy for private school families &ndash; while public schools, teachers, and students are left behind.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3457923\/skrmetti-supreme-court-tosses-lower-court-rulings-transgender-issues\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">SUPREME COURT TOSSES LOWER COURT RULINGS THAT FAVORED TRANSGENDER ISSUES IN FOUR STATES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At least 38,000 applications were received, the Education Department said recently. Half of the scholarships will be awarded to families whose income falls 300% below the federal free or reduced-lunch price guidelines, which is $173,160 a year for a family of four, according to the Education Department.<\/p>\n<p>Less than half of the applications, 18,852, are qualified income scholarships, the Education Department said previously, and the remaining are from universal scholarships with no income restrictions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2163225\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2163225\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tennessee Rep. Jody Barrett raises new concerns about Education Freedom Scholarships, which provide $7,295 for families to attend private schools<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2454223,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Education-classroom-bbuu881w3-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5152,4326,13584,38091,32076],"class_list":["post-2454222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-education","tag-policy","tag-scholarships","tag-school-choice","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Education-classroom-bbuu881w3-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2454222"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2454226,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2454222\/revisions\/2454226"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2454223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2454222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2454222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2454222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}