Everyone supports some form of school choice. There is little dispute on that issue, but public opinion on politics and policy issues is all over the map. Polling gathers our opinions and experiences on issues, including our knowledge, the impact on us, its importance, and potential actions to be taken.
School choice lets families choose schools beyond their neighborhoods, but lack of transportation can hinder the choice. Our data from 2024 told us that 42 percent of rural districts in Tennessee have no private schools, and 84 percent have three or fewer, making it difficult for students to participate. A 2025 Tennessean analysis found that “51 of the state's 95 counties would have no private school options.” Additionally, it “revealed that more than 90 percent of counties would have five or fewer private schools that could choose to accept vouchers.” The article added, “Private school options would be largely concentrated in the state's more urban, densely populated counties.”
So, while we agree that parents should make informed decisions to ensure their child is educated to their full potential, public schools will remain the choice of most parents and are critical to the state and local economies. Here are the types of school choices available in Tennessee.
Open enrollment. Families can choose public schools outside their area code through open enrollment, inter-district, and intra-district choice programs. However, public schools prioritize students within district lines.
Magnet. Magnet schools or programs offer specialized programs for students with shared interests in public schools. Application and acceptance are required for enrollment.
Career Academies. A career academy is the ultimate choice for a specialized high school education. It offers a rigorous college-prep curriculum with a career-oriented focus, comprising diverse academic subjects. Small learning communities integrate technical skills and academics for graduation and college admission. The curriculum aligns with private sector advancements, providing work-based learning opportunities to maximize student potential.
International Baccalaureate Program. The International Baccalaureate Program is a rigorous college prep curriculum emphasizing liberal arts and sciences. Initially created in the '60s for a group of international schools, it's now offered in over 5,400 schools worldwide.
Hybrid Model. Hybrid homeschooling combines the benefits of both homeschooling and traditional classroom learning.
School Vouchers. Voucher programs provide families with partial or complete tuition vouchers to enroll their children in private schools, including religious and non-religious options.
Traditional voucher programs. States require private schools to meet voucher criteria and reimburse education funds for tuition.
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Publicly funded savings accounts for parents offer multiple uses, including paying for school-related expenses and college savings. However, they are only available to eligible students.
Tax credit scholarships. States offer tax credits to businesses or individuals who donate to scholarship organizations. Eligible students can use funds for tuition at private schools.
Universal vouchers. These universal school vouchers are available to all students in the state, including those who already attend private schools and those that had not previously attended public schools. This has the effect of adding new costs to the state education budget.
Online Learning. Online learning is education conducted over the Internet, allowing students to work with their curriculum and teachers online. Online schools can be used in a public, private, or homeschool setting.
Microschooling. It is a personalized education system tailored to individual student's needs. It has become a popular option since the outbreak of COVID-19 and can be a part of public, private, or charter schools or operate independently.
Understanding the various forms of school choice and reading polling questions precisely is crucial. By knowing parents' perspectives and priorities, stakeholders, advocates, and policymakers can better address needs and concerns and ensure all students are fully educated. Now that we are off and running in the 114th Tennessee General Assembly let’s communicate using the same language.
JC Bowman
Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee