America First Policy Institute (AFPI) declared support for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s universal school choice bill filed in the Tennessee General Assembly, arguing that the bill embodies the organization’s “America First, Always” motto.
The governor’s Education Freedom Act of 2025 would make 20,000 Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) worth $7,075 available for Tennessee students in the 2025-2026 school year.
In addition to creating school choice vouchers, the bill, in its current form, would also provide K-12 public school teachers with a $2,000 bonus in the 2025-2026 school year and dedicate 80 percent of all sports wagering dollars to build and maintain public school facilities.
The Education Freedom Act (HB1/SB1) is sponsored in the General Assembly by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin).
Thank you @A1Policy, @ErikaDonalds and @realDonaldTrump for your steadfast support of school choice in Tennessee! The America First agenda empowers the people, not the government. Appreciate you standing with Tennessee families. #SchoolChoice @GovBillLee @BeaconTN pic.twitter.com/bFX2V7ttmY
— Speaker Cameron Sexton (@CSexton25) January 24, 2025
In a letter addressed to Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), Erika Donalds, chair of AFPI’s Center for Education Opportunity, said the organization “wholeheartedly” supports the Education Freedom Act,
“[W]e agree that every Tennessee parent deserves to be empowered with school choice for their child…School choice strengthens public school accountability by giving parents options and ensuring that schools deliver quality education to retain students. Restricting families to government-mandated schools does nothing to improve educational outcomes,” Donalds wrote in the letter.
AFPI went on to cite a recent poll conducted by the Nashville-based Beacon Center of Tennessee – which showed 67 percent of voters support the Education Freedom Act while just 13 percent oppose it – and multiple studies on similar programs implemented in other states that resulted in “improved academic outcomes.”
“School choice policies uplift every community and enhance the future of our nation by empowering parents and holding schools accountable,” the letter said.
As an organization advocating for President Donald Trump’s America First policies, AFPI went on to cite Trump’s declaration that school choice is “the civil rights issue of our time,” adding, “Together, we can make school choice a reality for every Tennessee family.”
AFPI’s support for the Education Freedom Act comes as Tennessee state lawmakers convened Monday for a special legislative session to focus on passing the school choice bill, a disaster relief package, and other measures related to immigration.
The creation of a universal school choice program in every U.S. State is included in the 2024 Republican Party Platform.
“Republicans believe families should be empowered to choose the best Education for their children. We support Universal School Choice in every State in America,” the platform says.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
