Tennessee lawmakers will be asked to approve the Tennessee Choice and Opportunity Scholarship Act this session.
It's the governor's proposal to offer private schooling to impoverished students in the state.
The idea is getting a warm reception from private schools.
On Monday night, the governor told the lawmakers he could not think of any reason not to help low-income students in the states lowest performing schools.
If the legislature adopts his plan, some 5000 students from low-performing schools around the state could end up in private schools, with the state footing the bill.
BOB ATECA, DEAN OF STUDENTS, GRACE BAPTIST ACADEMY "Obviously it's a positive for us. Anytime that we can bring more students into our school...now the question I think is...way too many questions out there......to the governor's proposal, what does that mean?"
JERI McINTURFF, PRINCIPAL, OLPH SCHOOL "Of course it's a benefit in enrollment for us."
The state scholarships would be about 5-thousand dollars.
JERI McINTURFF, PRINCIPAL, OLPH SCHOOL "I understrand its about 5-thousand dollars, and yes, that would ..that's very close to tuition for non-Catholics right now."
Some Hamilton county educators are skeptical about the idea.
SANDY HUGHES, PRES., HAM.CO. EDUCATION ASSOC. "Our school board voted to be anti-voucher, because it does take the money away,but then if the child gets in trouble there, the school can dismiss that child...suspend them and send them back to public schools..with no financial aid to take care of that child's needs."
Private school administrators are still assessing the full impact of the bill. Could the public money be a compromise?
BOB ATECA "Will the Federal government going to then try to regulate what a Christian school does? And then, in that case, it would be no benefit to us."
According to a Supreme court challenge in a similar case, that will not be a problem.
More on that Thursday as we look deeper into the Governor's proposals to boost education in Tennessee.
