Voucher debate on the national stage

Good afternoon! This is Liz Schubauer , city editor at The Tennessean, filling in for education reporter Rachel Wegner .

An education debate familiar to Tennesseans took center stage nationally yesterday as Gov. Bill Lee addressed the Republican National Convention. Lee called school choice the "civil rights issue of our time" and criticized the Biden-Harris administration.

"They attacked parental rights," Lee said. "Republican governors fought back for a parent's right to choose their own child's education."

The governor has for years sought to establish a school voucher program, which he believes would offer families the opportunity to tailor children's education to individual needs. Democrats have long opposed vouchers, warning they siphon much-needed funding from public schools and act as essentially a coupon system for wealthy families.

Since Lee's signature proposal died in the legislature this spring he's worked the campaign trail in support of voucher-friendly legislative candidates. Follow state politics reporter Melissa Brown as she reports from the RNC this week.

Meanwhile, the first day of school is rapidly approaching. Check your district's start date and plan your tax-free weekend shopping strategy ahead of July 26-28.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Voucher debate on the national stage