HB1544 SB1643 / Requires annual report on Education Freedom Scholarship program to the General Assembly.

This bill introduces new reporting requirements for Tennessee’s education freedom scholarship program, commonly known as school vouchers. Under this bill, the Department of Education must submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing key information about the program’s operations and financial impact. The report will include data on the county of residence for each scholarship recipient, the previous public school and school district (LEA) of each recipient, the private school they are attending, their grade level, and their household income. In addition, the department must provide a breakdown of total state expenditures on the program, including costs for third-party contracts, administrative expenses, advertising, marketing, and the total number of scholarships awarded.

Currently, state law does not require the tracking or publication of these specific metrics, which has led to concerns about fiscal oversight and program transparency. By mandating this level of detailed reporting, the legislation seeks to bring greater financial accountability and oversight to the use of taxpayer dollars in the voucher system. The bill specifies that the first report will be due by June 1, 2026, for the 2025-2026 school year and by October 1 each year thereafter, ensuring ongoing monitoring and assessment. Importantly, the new reporting requirements are designed to protect student privacy by prohibiting the inclusion of personally identifiable information.

The proposed changes would primarily affect the Department of Education, requiring them to collect and organize more comprehensive data on the voucher program. This, in turn, provides lawmakers and taxpayers with transparent information on how funds are used, which aligns with conservative principles of stewardship, accountability, and responsible governance. By amending Title 49, the legislation ensures that financial and demographic information about the program’s beneficiaries and expenditures becomes a matter of public record, allowing for better-informed policy decisions and reinforcing the value of transparency in education spending.