Tennessee’s Legislative Battle Over Education Rights for Undocumented Students
In an ongoing national debate, Tennessee has emerged as a focal point in the struggle over educational rights for undocumented students. Despite efforts by Republican-led states to challenge a historic Supreme Court ruling, these initiatives have encountered significant hurdles.
The landmark decision in question is the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case, Plyler v. Doe, which established that all students, regardless of legal status, are entitled to an education. Tennessee recently attempted to contest this ruling, proposing a measure that would permit K-12 schools to deny admission to undocumented students or impose tuition fees on their families.
State Senator Bo Watson, a sponsor of the bill, echoed sentiments from the original dissenting opinion by stating, “Modern education, like medical care, is enormously expensive.”
Nonetheless, Republican attempts to overturn Plyler v. Doe have faltered across various states. In Texas and Oklahoma, similar bills faced insurmountable obstacles. Tennessee’s version successfully passed the Senate but encountered resistance in the House due to financial concerns. The proposed legislation risked jeopardizing over $1 billion in federal funding for potentially violating the Civil Rights Act.
House sponsor William Lamberth expressed frustration over the bill’s stalling, noting, “At some juncture, I’d just run out of time.” Lamberth reached out to the U.S. Secretary of Education, seeking clarity on whether the bill would threaten substantial federal funds. He anticipated that under the Trump administration, the response would have been favorable, yet no reply was received before the legislative session concluded.
Opponents of the measure, like immigrant advocate Lisa Sherman Luna, consider its current dormancy a victory. Luna remarked, “Tennesseans showed up and sent a message loud and clear – education is for all children, no matter where they’re from or where they’re born.”
Meanwhile, contrasting developments have occurred elsewhere, as Illinois solidified the right to public education for undocumented students this year. Despite the setback in Tennessee, Lamberth intends to revisit the legislation, contingent on ongoing discussions with federal authorities.
For NPR News, this report comes from Marianna Bacallao in Nashville.
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