Local private schools anticipate growth as voucher program expands

Private schools in East Tennessee are preparing for growth after Tennessee lawmakers approved an expansion of the state's voucher program. The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation Thursday morning expanding the Education Freedom Scholarship program, which provides public funds for private school tuition. The program currently offers about $7,300 per student, an amount expected to rise to roughly $7,500 next year. Initially launched with 20,000 slots, lawmakers approved an additional 15,000 spots, scaling back from Governor Bill Lee's proposal to double the program to 40,000. The voucher expansion comes as private schools report increasing interest from families. John Mecklenborg, director of communications for the Diocese of Knoxville, including St. Mary's School of Johnson City, said Catholic schools across the region are already seeing the impact. "St. Mary's School and Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Knoxville are strongly supportive of the expansion of the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship Program," Mecklenborg said. "The scholarship has been a natural and welcome complement to the support we already provide." Across the Diocese of Knoxville, Mecklenborg said over 1,000 students have enrolled through the Education Freedom Scholarship for the 2025–26 school year, with that number expected to grow. He said the program is making private education more accessible for families who previously could not afford it. "Families in our community have long valued Catholic education, and this program makes that choice more accessible than ever before by removing financial barriers that previously kept some families from choosing the education they believed was best for their children," he said. Mecklenborg said schools are also adjusting to accommodate expected increases in enrollment. "We have seen meaningful growth in enrollment interest since the expansion was announced, and we have been actively encouraging both new and existing families to participate — especially those who already seek tuition assistance through our diocesan and parish programs," Mecklenborg said. "As we prepare for continued growth, we are thoughtfully reviewing our admissions processes, assessing classroom capacity and ensuring our staff is well-equipped to serve an expanding student body. "We view these as the welcome challenges of a school — and a diocese — that is growing to serve more families in Johnson City and across East Tennessee." The Tennessee Department of Education reported in March that 162 schools have signaled intent to participate in the program, including several in the Tri-Cities region. Local schools indicating intent to participate include St. Dominic Catholic School in Kingsport, St. Mary School in Johnson City, Tri-Cities Christian Academy (Blountville/Boones Creek) and Living Springs Christian Academy in Washington County. Supporters say the expansion gives families more educational choices, while opponents argue it diverts public funds from already strained school systems. School boards in Washington and Unicoi counties have previously voiced opposition, including a formal letter from the Washington County School Board. Lawmakers also added new provisions requiring the state to report enrollment data, including how many recipients were already enrolled in private schools, information that has not yet been publicly released and is expected in June.