GLENN JACOBS: Tennessee Must Build On Education Freedom By Expanding Number Of Scholarships

Last year, Tennessee took a historic step forward. With the passage of Education Freedom Scholarships, our state affirmed a simple yet powerful principle: parents know their children best. We recognized that education funding should follow the student and that families – not bureaucracies – should have the final say in where and how their children are educated.

That was the right decision. Now we have the opportunity to build on that success by doubling the number of scholarships available to Tennessee families. We should not hesitate.

When the program launched, demand was immediate and overwhelming. Thousands of families made it clear they are seeking more educational options. That demand equals real parents looking for solutions for their children.

As a father and as mayor of Knox County, I understand that no two children are the same. Some students thrive in traditional public schools. Others benefit from public charter schools. Still others may need private, parochial or alternative settings to reach their full potential. A one-size-fits-all system cannot possibly meet the needs of every child.

Education Freedom Scholarships simply give families the ability to make those decisions for themselves.

This is not about weakening public schools. It is about strengthening education across the board. When funding follows students, schools – public and private alike – are encouraged to innovate, improve and compete to deliver better outcomes. Competition is not a threat. It is an incentive to excel. And let’s be clear: doubling scholarships is not radical. It is a responsible response to real demand. This year, Tennessee families have access to 20,000 scholarships. With more than one million students in public schools across the state, even if we double the amount of educational freedom scholarships, we’re talking about approximately 4% of the total public-school enrollment for the state.