Barbic: Vouchers Should Be for ‘Any Private School’

Affording private schools in Tennessee may be out of reach for some parents – even if they get voucher money the state would otherwise send to public schools. It’s one concern before the governor’s task force on school vouchers.

School districts get a set amount of funding for each student enrolled. The idea behind vouchers is to instead let parents spend that money on private schools. Such a move would shift over around $7 thousand.

Task force member Chris Barbic says the trouble is some private schools in Nashville cost double or triple that much. Barbic says that means vouchers could leave poorer parents a choice only on paper:

“The best way to accomplish the goal is to make sure that we’re giving kids a voucher that’s going to allow them to go to any private school, not just some. Otherwise it’s not worth the effort in my mind.”

Barbic is superintendent of the Achievement School District, which oversees the state’s worst performing schools. The task force he’s on is working to outline a vouchers proposal before lawmakers return in January.