Action Alert: Stop the Voucher Scam Expansion

Written By Chase Lindsey

Tennessee Republicans are back with the same old scam: take public money, send it to private schools, and call it “freedom.”

This week, lawmakers are moving bills that would expand private school vouchers and weaken accountability around them. That means more taxpayer money leaving public schools, less transparency, and fewer answers for the families and communities footing the bill. HB2532 would raise the cap on Education Freedom Scholarships from 25,000 to 40,000 for the 2026–2027 school year, and the state’s fiscal summary projects $150.6 million in General Fund spending in FY26–27. SB1585 is on the Senate calendar for Monday, March 23, 2026, HB1881 is up in House K-12 on Tuesday, March 24, and HB2532 is up in House Finance on Wednesday, March 25.

They want to spend more public money on private schools while making it harder for the public to know whether any of it is working.

That is not about choice. That is not about accountability.
That is not fiscal responsibility. That is a giveaway.

What these bills do

  • HB2532 / SB2247 expands Tennessee’s voucher program again. More seats, more taxpayer dollars, more money pulled into a system that does not answer to the public the way public schools do.

  • HB1881 / SB1585 raises concerns because it moves Tennessee even further away from real accountability in its voucher programs. At a moment when lawmakers should be demanding proof, transparency, and standards, they are moving in the opposite direction.

Why Democrats should say “no”

Public schools take everybody. Private schools do not.

Public schools are expected to show their work.
Private schools cashing public checks should have to do the same.

If Republicans want to hand out public money, then the public has every right to demand answers:

  • Who is benefiting?

  • Where is the money going?

  • Are students actually doing better?

  • Why are private schools getting looser rules than public schools?

Working families do not need another scheme that shifts resources upward and away from them.

What to say

Keep it simple:

“Please oppose HB2532 / SB2247 and HB1881 / SB1585. Public money belongs in public schools. If lawmakers send taxpayer dollars to private schools, those schools should be subject to the same transparency, accountability, and standards the public expects from public education.”

A few extra points

  • Tennessee should not expand vouchers while public schools are still being asked to do more with less.

  • Taxpayer dollars should come with taxpayer oversight.

  • If a program cannot survive transparency, it should not be expanded.

  • The answer to weak oversight is more accountability, not less.

Key dates

Monday, March 23 | SB1585 on Senate Regular Calendar.
Tuesday, March 24 | HB1881 in House K-12 Subcommittee.
Wednesday, March 25 | HB2532 in House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee.

Take action. Call. Email. Leave a voicemail.

It does not have to be polished. It just has to be clear.

Tell them: stop the voucher scam. Stop sending public money to private schools without public accountability.

Put Tennessee students first.

Call or email these lawmakers and ask them to oppose voucher expansion and oppose any effort to weaken accountability for private schools receiving public money.

About HB1881

House K-12 Education Subcommittee

Also contact Lt. Gov. Randy McNally about SB1585

About HB2532 / SB2247

House Finance, Ways & Means Committee / Subcommittee

Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee

Chase Lindsey
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