Sen. Jack Johnson: ‘Memphis Schools Failing Kids’

The Tennessee legislature created 20,000 school choice scholarships for families in 2025, and state Republicans may soon expand on that education program as residents scorn underperforming traditional public schools.

In an interview with KWAM News Radio on Tuesday, State Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Williamson County) said the “Memphis County Shelby County school system is failing the kids.”

School systems are “created by and accountable to the state,” he told radio host Todd Starnes. “The constitution in the state of Tennessee gives sovereign power to the General Assembly to create those tax and political subdivisions because we believe in local control.”

“But if that local entity is not doing the job that it was created to do in an effective manner … we have an obligation to step in,” the senator told KWAM.

Starnes noted that 70% of students are not performing at the appropriate reading level.

Listen to the full school choice interview here.

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In addition to serving in the state legislature, Johnson plays a leadership role in Franklin-based BrightStone, a nonprofit empowering adults with learning disabilities through life-long support programs.

Despite some schools underperforming, Johnson said the ones in his district near Williamson County are excelling because lawmakers in the 1970s made investments in education. 

“As a result, Williamson County is the wealthiest county and dare I say the most prosperous county in the state,” he said.

In 2025, within a few days of debuting the school choice scholarship program, Johnson said nearly 40,000 applications poured in, signaling a high demand from families seeking options beyond their standard district schools.

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