A school voucher plan for Tennessee passed a key legislative hurdle Wednesday.
The legislation made its way out of a House budget subcommittee for the first time, helping clear a major obstacle for the legislation.
House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Curtis Johnson, R-Clarksville, said on Tuesday he would vote in favor of the bill. His vote helped clear the way for the bill to leave the subcommittee. The previous leader of the subcommittee voted many times against the bill.
If enacted into law, it will be the second voucher legislation to be passed this session. A limited voucher program passed last year allows families to use local and state funds for education expenses for students with severe disabilities.
If it makes its way past the House floor, it’s likely to be signed into law. A spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Haslam said Tuesday the governor supports the bill.
Without any amendments, the bill will allow eligible students to use public money for private school tuition.
The students have to qualify for free or reduced lunches and have to be zoned for or attend a school that is in the bottom 5 percent of all schools in the state to qualify. The bill caps the total number of students who can apply, with different totals in different years of the program. (continue reading at Tennessean)