Lawmakers agree on charter schools, pre-K

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Democrats and Republicans eventually got what they wanted this session on the issues of charter schools and the governor's pre-kindergarten program.

A mostly Republican-backed proposal to open charter school eligibility to more students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches appeared dead when the House Education Committee adjourned for the year without taking up the measure.

But the committee eventually reopened and Democrats agreed to changes to the proposal.

As for pre-K, Senate Republicans had previously suggested drawing $22 million of pre-K funding from lottery reserves. Democrats criticized the move as a step toward scaling back or ultimately killing the program targeted at 4-year-olds from poor families.

Republicans eventually acquiesced.