Tennessee Governor Bill Lee Introduces Education Freedom Act

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has introduced a second school choice bill, the Education Freedom Act of 2025, inspired by President-elect Donald Trump's commitment to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The proposed legislation aims to provide 20,000 scholarships of $7,000 each for low-income students, alongside funding for public schools and teacher bonuses. Lee believes that state-level control over education is essential and that the federal Department of Education has become overly bureaucratic, prioritizing ideology over learning. While he supports Trump's plan, Lee intends to maintain federal education funding, which provides significant financial support for low-income and disabled students in Tennessee. In light of recent electoral victories by pro-school choice candidates, Lee is optimistic about the bill's prospects this time around. He aims to enhance educational opportunities and parental involvement in the state's education system, viewing this bill as a critical step forward.