NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam says lawmakers still have a "ways to go" in reaching a consensus on his school voucher legislation.

But the Republican governor told reporters on Thursday after speaking at a higher education event organized by the Tennessee Business Roundtable that he's optimistic a measured approach to his proposal will prevail.

Haslam originally sought to limit the vouchers to students from low-income families attending the bottom 5 percent of failing schools.

On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee passed a version that would expand eligibility to low-income students in districts that have a school in the bottom 5 percent if the initial slots aren't filled.

The House version, which has stalled, would expand eligibility to the bottom 10 percent of failing schools if slots are left. Haslam acknowledged Thursday there's still work to be done in the House.