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Tennessee Senate passes version of ESA/school vouchers bill

A major change for state K-12 public schools took another hard-fought step on Tennessee's Capitol Hill Thursday.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – A major change for state K-12 public schools took another hard-fought step on Tennessee’s Capitol Hill Thursday.

A version of Governor Bill Lee’s education savings account or ESA voucher plan passed the full Senate Thursday morning 20-13 after a nearly two-hour vote, but the measure remains different from what passed the House Tuesday.

The heart of the bill would send an estimated $7300 yearly to eligible students in Davidson and Shelby counties only.

The House bill currently has two other counties, Knox and Hamilton, in the measure, but there’s a verbal promise that Knox would be removed when differences in the plans are resolved. 

The students could use the ESA or voucher money for educational purposes, but most likely purpose it would be for private schools.

The two versions of the ESA plan will have to be resolved in a conference committee between the House and Senate.

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