The State Legislature on Tuesday cleared the next hurdle for "opportunity scholarships" in Tennessee.
The Senate Finance Committee passed the Gardenhire/Dunn bill (SB 0999) by a 9-2 vote.
Supporters said currently the legislation has 25 co-sponsors and has received 24 out of 27 votes in committees this session.
"The movement for school choice continues to grow and gain legislative momentum," said Tony Niknejad of the Tennessee Federation for Children. "Parents are struggling to give their children the best education available and to have the opportunity to choose a school that best fits their needs. We will continue to stand with them and with the 60 percent of Tennesseans who would take the chance to use a scholarship to find a better school for their child." ?
Senator Todd Gardenhire is one of the sponsors that would call for eligibility for low-income students in districts that have a school in the bottom five percent.