NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The following may be attributed to TEA President Tanya T. Coats, a veteran Knox County educator:

“Tennessee’s educators are disheartened by the rushed way statewide vouchers passed the Tennessee General Assembly during the extraordinary session called by Gov. Bill Lee.

“Four days – that’s all the time provided to consider a statewide voucher plan and a massive appropriations bill, with just a few hours of actual deliberation. This is a disservice to the students in Tennessee’s public schools, and damages public faith in the process when families, educators, and voters were eager to continue engaging in meaningful conversations about what’s best for our students, schools, and communities.

"While we are grateful for the much-needed relief that will finally reach disaster-stricken communities in Northeast Tennessee, we share the sentiment of many local officials who have expressed dismay that universal vouchers were included in the call for the special session.

“We would have preferred to see relief dollars in a separate appropriations bill from the funds for universal vouchers to avoid the perception that funding for vouchers and providing relief to Tennesseans who are still suffering in the aftermath of a natural disaster were tied together.

“We thank the legislators who stood with their communities, families, and educators by voting against the statewide voucher bill. We are also grateful to the thousands of parents and community members who reached out to their elected officials with concerns about universal vouchers.

“We remain concerned about the impact of this statewide voucher program on Tennessee’s public schools, particularly rural schools which will be first in line to feel the impact when state funding begins to erode. Over time, the inevitable reduction of the state’s support of public schools to fund the ballooning costs of vouchers will leave local governments to try to make up the difference. They’ll be forced to decide whether to raise taxes locally or reduce services, which can mean firing teachers and closing schools.

“We regret that by voting for Gov. Lee’s statewide voucher bill, the legislature has agreed to subsidize the tuition for a few families, most of whom have never set foot in a public school, at the expense of opportunity for the vast majority of Tennessee’s students. Assurances that public schools will not be adversely affected by this program are impossible to keep, as seen in other states who have created similar programs. It is a sad day for taxpayers who will have little accountability over these funds and for students whose public schools will inevitably suffer as a result of this program.”