NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to create a school voucher program in Tennessee is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

The legislation would limit the program to 5,000 students in failing schools in the academic year that begins in August and grow to 20,000 by 2016.

The companion bill was approved 8-4 in the House Government Operations Committee on Tuesday and is headed to the House Finance Committee.

A competing Republican-sponsored measure seeks to broaden the number of students by not limiting participation to low-performing schools. It may also be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.