Depending on who you ask, State Representative Courtney Rogers is an avid supporter of school voucher programs or she is a reliable opponent of vouchers.
Americans for Prosperity
sent a mailer to Sumner voters recently giving Rogers a grade of A+ for her support of vouchers.
Then, the Tennessee Education Association sent a mailer saying:
"Privatization groups want to destroy public schools. Courtney Rogers said NO to vouchers!"
So, the TEA is telling its members to support Courtney Rogers in the Republican primary because she opposes vouchers.
And Americans for Prosperity is telling its target audience that Courtney Rogers supports vouchers and thus, deserves a vote.
Then, there's a mailer from the Tennessee Federation for Children -- a division of the American Federation for Children with a very minimal Tennessee presence. This mailer mentions that Courtney Rogers supports "More jobs, less waste, and lower taxes."
It doesn't say anything about vouchers. But TFC is one of the state's loudest proponents of vouchers and a leading member of the School Choice NOW coalition, a group focused on bringing vouchers to Tennessee.
So, what's the story? Rogers did vote AGAINST Governor Bill Haslam's proposal for a limited voucher program that would have effectively only gone to low income students in Memphis and Nashville.
She has expressed support for a voucher program that applies to every district and every student, regardless of income. A privatization scheme it seems the TEA would likely strongly oppose. And one that could have a devastating impact on the school system in Sumner County.
Curiously, there's not been much mail or public comment from Rep. Rogers on the voucher issue (or any other).
Perhaps she's simply relying on outside special interests to tell her story - or, tell their version of her story.
