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Fight over private school voucher initiative continues in Shelby County; outreach groups look to pressure lawmakers

Educational activist group Leaders of Color is fighting against the move, arguing it will hurt educational outcomes, particularly for black and brown students.

SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — A dramatic expansion of Tennessee's private school voucher program could soon become reality, allowing students K-12 to receive taxpayer funding to attend private schools regardless of economic need.

Educational activist group Leaders of Color is fighting against the move,  arguing it will hurt educational outcomes, particularly for black and brown students. 

“Our main goal right now is to make sure that public schools and public charter schools are receiving all the support that they need and resources that they need so that students are achieving academic success,” said Maria Oceja, Training and Recruitment Manager for Leaders of Color. “By privatizing public funds we will not be able to ensure students have academic success.”

School districts in Collierville and Germantown have also fought against the measure alongside Memphis Shelby County Schools.

This week at his state of the state address, Gov. Bill Lee said he will continue the fight over the voucher initiative. 

“There are some who would say that parents don’t belong in the decision making process of their children. Our responsibility is to the student and to the family, not to the status quo,” Lee said in his address.

Advocates argue the move will give parents more freedom and students better results, while critics say it siphons public money permanently into private hands.

“Let’s say that student ends up not being able to succeed in that private school. That school keeps those funds. Those funds don't ever go back to the public,” Oceja said.

In another bid that would limit local control over the school system, Rep. Mark White, (R - Germantown) has proposed a bill that would give Lee’s administration the ability to directly appoint six new members of the MSCS board.

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