Dear John,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to share some news with you that highlights the incredible work of our campaign, TennesseeCAN, its Executive Director, Victor Evans, and its Policy Director Erika Berry.

Today, we celebrate a monumental win for Tennessee families. Moments ago, the Tennessee House passed a bill expanding the state’s education savings account (ESA) program to children in Hamilton county. The bill has already passed the Senate. This expansion brings the number of counties benefiting from the ESA program to three of the state’s four largest counties, including Shelby and Davidson, and the total number of eligible students to 75,000. 

Earlier this year, I wrote for Opportunity America that the key lesson parents and policymakers should learn from the pandemic is that “funding should be channeled directly to families—that’s the only way to give parents enough influence to drive meaningful change on the ground.” More importantly, this funding is essential to reestablishing balance between families and school districts. ESAs are one method, in a broader constellation of policies, that will enable this dynamic. And the more families that have access to direct funding, the better.

This achievement is a testament to the relentless efforts of TennesseeCAN, under Victor Evans' leadership, who has championed the ability for every student to obtain the education that is right for them across the Volunteer State during his tenure. As the Executive Director of TennesseeCAN, Victor has been a vocal advocate for this legislation, ensuring that more families have access to the necessary resources to make the best educational decisions for their children. We’re ecstatic that Tennessee lawmakers agree.

In Victor's own words, "We believe that every child deserves access to a high-quality education that is right for them, and this ESA expansion is a testament to our commitment to making that a reality for even more students. While this is a step in the right direction, I hear weekly queries from parents in counties that don’t yet have access, wondering when their turn will come. For the sake of them and their children, expansion must continue next year and beyond.”

The future of American education is one that prioritizes aspirations over address, and this is a great leap toward that future. 

We look forward to keeping you updated on the implementation of the expanded ESA program in Hamilton county and sharing more success stories from our campaigns across the country. 

Thank you once again for your unwavering support, and let's celebrate this victory for Tennessee's children.