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District briefs committee on Tennessee voucher program, estimates fiscal exposure amid enrollment decline
Summary
District staff told the committee that about 25,000 students are eligible for Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship in year one (about $7,295 per student) and warned that Fayette County faces an estimated $3.5 million shortfall while the state's hold-harmless provision supplies roughly $2 million in temporary relief; homeschool reporting responsibilities were also reviewed.
Dr. Don McPherson briefed the Education, Sports and CTE Committee on Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship (voucher) program and related district responsibilities for homeschool students.
He said Senator Page Walley had been invited to speak but was unable to attend because the Tennessee General Assembly was in session. Dr. McPherson reported that roughly 25,000 students are eligible during the program's first year and that eligible students may receive $7,295 toward private school tuition; proposed legislation could expand participation to about 40,000 students next year with scholarships increasing to approximately $7,530 per student.
On district finances, Dr. McPherson said Fayette County Public Schools faces an estimated $3.5 million budget shortfall; the state's funding floor (the "hold harmless" provision) is providing about $2 million in temporary financial relief.
The committee also reviewed district responsibilities related to homeschool students, including registration, attendance reporting, vaccination and student records. Dr. McPherson reported the district currently has 69 registered homeschool students and noted that homeschooled students in grades 5, 7 and 9 are required to participate in state-approved assessments. Board members emphasized the district serves as official record-keeper for homeschool students but does not receive state funding for that work.
Committee members did not vote on a policy change at the meeting; discussion centered on potential fiscal impacts and the logistics of homeschool reporting.
