The governor hopes to launch the program for 20,000 students by the next school year, a tight deadline for the state to meet.

Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday signed legislation designed to drastically expand school voucher access throughout the Volunteer State that will allow families to use taxpayer dollars on private school expenses regardless of income.

Gov. Bill Lee signed Tennessee’s universal school voucher bill into law, officially kicking off the state’s push to roll out the program this year for up to 20,000 students.

Bill Lee is pushing for a major revision to Tennessee charter school law to create ways for operators to bypass their local elected school boards and apply directly to a state commission for authorization.