A Franklin County board member used Monday's meeting to summarize the Education Freedom Act of 2025 and urge community members to contact state legislators about potential effects on public schools and special education services.

The board member described the proposal as a plan to provide roughly $7,075 per student to families who choose private schools, and said public schools typically receive about 70% of that amount from the state while counties must provide the remainder. The member warned the voucher proposal could leave students with individualized education programs (IEPs) or 504 plans without federally mandated services unless families or outside employers pay for them.

"If you know of or have in your family a special ed student, one with an IEP or 504 ... you need to read that," the board member said, arguing private schools receiving voucher funds "don't have to take these kids" or to provide the same services public schools do. The member cited other states that have faced budget pressures after broad voucher programs and noted that some voters in other states recently rejected similar measures.

The presenter said Tennessee had set aside $144,000,000 for the program in the first year and described an initial enrollment target of 20,000 students that could expand; the speaker stated that in some rollout proposals families with annual incomes up to roughly $173,000 for a family-of-four could qualify for a low-income slot under staged eligibility. The board member characterized the long-term fiscal impact as a concern and urged community members to contact Representative Rush Bricken and Senator Bowling, who represent the area.

The speaker noted upcoming legislative activity and a possible special session; no formal board action was taken at the meeting. The presentation was offered as information and advocacy from a board member rather than as a proposed district policy change.

No vote or formal resolution was taken regarding the Education Freedom Act at the meeting.