Senator Joey Hensley, MD

Tennessee Republican leadership introduces Education Freedom Act of 2025 on behalf of Governor Lee

The morning following President Trump’s historic win, Tennessee Republican lawmakers filed the first bill of the 2025 legislative session. The Education Freedom Act of 2025 was filed November 6 to launch a new era of student success and put the Volunteer State on the pathway to having the best public schools in the nation.

Providing parents with the ability to make education decisions for their children is so important. Families should not have their educational opportunities limited because of their income or zip code. This legislation allows parents to use their hard-earned tax dollars and direct them towards the best educational approach that meets the unique needs of their child.

Senate Bill 1 establishes statewide school choice, giving every Tennessee family the opportunity to choose the educational path that best suits the needs of their child. The legislation makes significant investments in public education while preserving the future fiscal integrity of public schools.

The Education Freedom Act of 2025 includes:

• 20,000 scholarships for Tennessee students starting in the 2025-26 school year

• 10,000 reserved for students at or below 300% of income qualifying for free or reduced price lunch, have a disability, or are eligible for the existing ESA program

• Ensures state funding to school districts will never decrease due to disenrollment

• Scholarship amounts equal to the per pupil base funds allocated to public school students each year - $7,075 as of the most recent school year

• Funds will be deposited into an account to be used for tuition, fees and other qualified education expenses

• 350+ private schools eligible to voluntarily receive Education Freedom Scholarships as Category I-III schools

• Schools will maintain their independence and educational freedom, preventing unnecessary government overreach while expanding school choice for families

• 5,000 additional scholarships with universal eligibility added each year after 75% of total scholarships are taken in the prior year to ensure controlled, fiscally responsible program growth

The Education Freedom Act of 2025 also includes significant investments in Tennessee’s public schools and teachers including:

• $2,000 bonus for every teacher in the state

• 80% of all sports wagering dollars dedicated to building and maintaining K-12 public school facilities, particularly for emergency needs as well as at-risk and distressed counties

Tennessee remains committed to supporting public schools through an estimated $275 million in additional state funding provided through TISA. Starting teacher pay will also increase to $47,000 in FY 25-26 – an increase from $35,000 in 2019, placing the state 16th in the nation.

I look forward to considering this legislation in the 114th Tennessee General Assembly which is scheduled to convene on Jan. 14, 2025.

You May Contact

Senator Hensley at

425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.,

Suite 742

Nashville TN 37243

615-741-3100

Toll Free 1-800-449-8366 ext. 13100

Fax 615-253-0231

855 Summertown Highway

Hohenwald TN 38462

Phone 931-796-2018

Cell Phone 931-212-8823

E-mail:

[email protected]