Title: Establishes the Tennessee Choice and Opportunity Scholarship Program
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Tennessee Choice and Opportunity Scholarship Program.
Highlights:
Authorizes students to apply for the Tennessee Choice and Opportunity Scholarship Program if they meet certain criteria, including, but not limited to, the following criteria (Sec. 3):
The student resides in Tennessee and zoned to attend or enroll in a public school that is identified as being in the bottom 5 percent of schools in the state; and
The student is eligible for free or reduced price lunch based on household income levels.
Requires schools participating in the program to meet certain criteria, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 4):
To voluntarily enroll eligible students;
To provide notice of intent on an annual basis to participate in the program to the Department of Education through completion of an application; and
To comply with certain federal nondiscrimination policies.
Authorizes the Department to award the following number of scholarships per year under the program (Sec. 8):
No more than 5,000 scholarships for the 2013-2014 school year;
No more than 7,500 scholarships for the 2014-2015 school year;
No more than 10,000 scholarships for the 2015-2016 school year; and
No more than 20,000 scholarships for the 2016-2017 school year and every year after.