Franklin Tn Chamber Of Commerce

Senate's voucher plan would boost low-income students

I read with renewed optimism the June 10 guest column, much of which I agreed with, by Marc Everett Hill, chief education officer of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce (“School voucher plan in present form would be a mistake”).

The Nashville Chamber has proven a valuable ally to the legislature in our education reforms to date: expanding charter schools and tying teacher evaluations and tenure to student performance. But now is not the time to rest on our laurels. It is time for Tennessee to move forward to the next step in education reform: Equal Opportunity Scholarships.

The Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act would allow low-income public school students in Davidson County the opportunity that higher-income children already have to attend a quality school of their choice. The scholarships could be used at K-12 independent schools, parochial schools or other public schools within the district if space is available.

The scholarships would be available to students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch in the four largest counties in Tennessee: Davidson, Shelby, Hamilton and Knox. For a family of four, that includes families with incomes below $42,000. In Davidson County, a remarkable 70 percent of public school students find themselves in such a situation.

The bill, which I am proud to have sponsored, passed the Tennessee Senate in April with support from Sen. Douglas Henry, D-Nashville, and Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin. The House decided to study the issue this fall before taking it up again in January. I welcome input from the Nashville Chamber during the fall study.

In the Senate bill, the scholarship amount is limited to half the money that state and local school systems spend on each child, or $5,500 in Davidson County. I agree with Mr. Hill that $5,500 is too little to pay for most private schools in Nashville. The House should look instead to give a 100 percent scholarship. An $11,000 scholarship would not cover full tuition at Harpeth Hall, MBA or Ensworth, but it would pay for a high-quality education at many independent and parochial schools in the area and would allow for new schools to spring up to meet the demand.

Because opportunity scholarships have been in place in other states like Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia since 1990, we know for sure that they work. Nine of the 10 “random-assignment” studies on scholarships concluded reading and math scores of students with scholarships increased 6-12 percentage points after the first few years compared to those of other low-income students who applied to receive a scholarship but were unable to receive one because of a lottery system used by some states.

Franklin Tennessee Relocation Guide | Premier Buyer's Agent

Franklin Tennessee Relocation Guide 06/16/11

Your Franklin relocation will be a time of great excitement but it can also be a lot of work. You will need several great partners to make the transition as smooth as possible. On of the most important partners will be a great Realtor to assist in your search for a new home. A real estate “buyer’s agent” is somebody who, according to Tennessee state law, is responsible for looking out for your best interest in locating and negotiating the purchase of your new home. In the following article, I will address all of the pertinent subjects of your move including: finding a real estate agent, buying a home, inspection / appraisal / lender issues, Franklin school system information, local school system information, preparing for your move, and what to do when you arrive in Franklin. Scott Hines is a local Franklin realtor and relocation specialist. He is the owner and principal broker of Premier Buyers Agent LLC. Scott may be reached at (615) 268-2881 or www.PremierBuyersAgent.com and he has assisted many families in a smooth relocation to Franklin.

Once you have decided to relocate to Franklin, then you should contact a local reputable lender. I recommend a local lender because their underwriting staff and lenders are familiar with the unique properties in the area where you will be living. I have worked with David Thompson at First Bank for over ten years and would suggest that you would be hard pressed to find a better lender. David may be reached at (615) 269-9444. Please feel free to contact me directly for a list of other reputable local lenders. In order to make an offer on a home, you will need to be “pre-qualified” and must submit an “approval letter” with your offer on a new home. Your lender will be able to provide this letter and advise you on the price and payments for which you qualify.

Locating a great real estate agent in Franklin is your next step. A great Franklin realtor is one who will listen to and understand your needs. A top Franklin real estate agent is one who has experience, not just in years but rather number of transactions negotiated each year. A part time agent selling 2 homes a year for 20 years may not be as experienced as an agent with 3 years experience selling fifty homes a year. You also need an agent who has the ability to narrow your search to the right home without wasting days in the process showing you homes that are not suitable just because they happen to be listed for sell by the agents company. Scott Hines averages 16 hours from viewing the first home to making an offer.

Official Congressional Directory, 109th Congress

Official Congressional Directory, 2007-2008: 110th Congress (Paperback)

FaxUSA 2002, a directory of facsimile numbers for businesses and organizations nationwide / edited by Jennifer C. Perkins

Official Congressional Directory, 2009-2010: 111th Congress, Convened January 2009 (Paperback)

Official Congressional Directory, 2005-2006, 109th Congress, Convened January 4, 2005