Latest news with #HB793
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee asks feds whether state funds are jeopardized by immigrant student bill
House Majority Leader William Lamberth, right, has asked the U.S. Department of Education for guidance on a bill that would restrict undocumented immigrant students from enrolling in K-12 schools. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) In the final days of the 2025 legislative session, Tennessee officials are asking the U.S. Department of Education whether federal funds are being jeopardized by a bill that would restrict undocumented immigrant students from enrolling in K-12 schools. The state's Fiscal Review Executive Director Bojan Savic sent a letter Monday to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to determine whether the state could lose $1.1 billion in federal funds if the legislature passes bills that could force school districts to check the citizenship status of children and force them to pay tuition to enroll. Hoping for a quick turnaround, House Majority Leader William Lamberth told the Lookout Monday he requested the letter because he wants to know whether the money is at risk before the end of the session, which is expected to be Tuesday. The bill he is sponsoring, HB793, hit a roadblock, in part because of financial questions surrounding it and could be delayed until 2026, even though it passed the Senate. The Fiscal Review financial analysis says the funds could be in jeopardy because of federal laws prohibiting discrimination. 'We fully trust the Trump Administration will not withhold federal dollars from our schools due to the passage of House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836,' Lamberth said. 'However, out of an abundance of caution, we want to be exceptionally careful before we move forward to ensure no federal taxpayer dollars are at risk. Our first obligation is to prioritize public dollars for students lawfully in the United States. The last thing we want to do is cause our schools to be further drained of much-needed resources.' The House version of the legislation would give school districts the option to check students to determine whether they have permanent legal documentation, differing from the Senate version, which would require districts to check students' immigration status and require tuition. Stockard on the Stump: Tennessee immigrant student bill losing momentum Federal Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origins in programs that receive federal funds, and violating the law could put the federal funds in danger. Those deal with the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Act, Carl Perkins Act and school nutrition. Lamberth declined Monday to confirm that the bill could be dead for the year. The Lookout reported last week that the bill could be dead for the year, mainly because of financial questions. Republican Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson, who has been feeling considerable pressure from opponents of the bill, said he would consider seeking a compromise on the measure, according to a Chattanooga TV report. The bill is designed to go through the courts and challenge the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe that required school districts to education students regardless of their immigration status. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I was an undocumented student. I'm going to be a doctor. Keep education a right.
On my way into the hospital recently, a headline caught my eye. It stated that the Tennessee Senate passed a bill that would end the right to education as we know it. Threatening to challenge a SCOTUS decision from 1982 that guaranteed education to all children, Senate Bill 836 and its accompanying House Bill 793 would ultimately allow schools to limit educational access to students with an undocumented status. Locking my phone away and walking in to see my patients, it struck me that under this bill I would not be here today. My family and I immigrated to Middle Tennessee when I was only 3 years old. Drawn to the state for its natural beauty and warm welcoming community, we decided to make Tennessee our home. Though we were new to the state, Murfreesboro embraced us and made this new land feel like home. It is here where I learned to read and count and work hard. It is here where I learned to believe that my life meant something. It is here where I learned about the American Dream. Though I was undocumented throughout the entirety of my youth, my teachers never saw a legal status – they saw a boy who was excited to learn. Although my path after grade school may have been uncertain, they instilled a belief within me that I could forge a way forward. Together, from kindergarten to high school, we did just that. With their dedication and my perseverance, a path forward began forming before us. Eventually, I gained my citizenship and am now just weeks away from becoming Dr. Gudiño-Rosales, the first physician in my family. Opinion: Tennessee lawmakers back immigration bill that creates a permanent underclass However, had HB793/SB836 existed when I was a child, we would not have forged that path. I would not have made it through grade school, and I would not be wearing a white coat today. Sponsors of these bills cite various reasons as justification for this legislation including limited financial resources. Despite their claims, there is no evidence that denying undocumented students access to education would save the state any money. Instead, as over 20 Tennessee businesses have expressed, barring these students from public schools could cost Tennessee millions in federal funding. Furthermore, restricting access to education threatens to jeopardize recent gains in student outcomes. These improvements are proof that investing in every child in Tennessee is strategic for the continued excellence of the state. With meaningful support, our students will continue excelling as they become tomorrow's workforce of nurses, educators, and, yes, even doctors. Opinion: Trump's deportations emboldened GOP. But they're going after kids, not criminals That is why as lawmakers continue debating HB793, I urge them to consider the nascent potential of all students but especially the roughly 10,000 undocumented students in Tennessee. While there is agreement in that a consensus must be reached regarding immigration, this bill unfairly targets the most vulnerable individuals affected by this issue. Undocumented students did not choose their immigration status and should not be forced to bear the brunt of the consequences. It has been famously coined that education is the great equalizer in our country, and it is a phrase that has undoubtedly held true for me. However, that truth exists only because the Tennessee education system believed in me. Because of their faith, I now get to take care of people when they are most vulnerable and give back to communities in ways they did for me. Therefore, I ask Tennessee lawmakers to reflect on what we stand for as the Volunteer State and urge them to vote no on HB793. I implore them to leave children out of this immigration issue. Do not close the doors of educational opportunity for students; keep them open and preserve Tennessee's legacy of strength and hope. Santiago Gudiño-Rosales, a proud graduate of Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a senior medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee undocumented students can achieve great success | Opinion
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Murfreesboro City Schools officially opposes bill denying education to undocumented children
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Murfreesboro City Schools Board of Education stands firm in its opposition to a bill that would deny the right to a free education to undocumented students currently making its way through the Tennessee General Assembly. At its most recent meeting, the school board passed a resolution stating its opposition to HB 793/SB 836, which would authorize public school districts and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are 'unlawfully present in the United States.' Critics of the bill say it's an assault on the rights of all children to a free education as provided by the 19892U.S. Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe and will lead to lengthy and costly legal challenges. Supporters of the measure say it's already costly for state and local governments to educate undocumented students. READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County 'Currently, the federal government identifies free and reduced lunch, and they will pay to feed the children in our school systems, but under Plyler v. Doe, they put us in a situation where they won't pay for these students that are in our school systems that are causing this undue burden in our state and in states across the country,' Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) said. Murfreesboro City Schools officials said in their resolution the bill demonstrates 'a willingness to use vulnerable children and the school districts that serve them as a vehicle to test well-established constitutional protections.' Further, the resolution states allowing 'discriminatory practices against students solely based on their immigration status creates inequitable educational systems, potentially promotes division within our communities, places school staff in the untenable position of making enrollment inquiries based on immigration status, and conflicts with the mission of Murfreesboro City Schools to assure the academic and personal success for each child.' Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More The resolution 'formally opposes House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836 and urges the Tennessee General Assembly to vote to oppose the passage of this bill.' The bill narrowly passed the Tennessee Senate on Thursday morning after a long debate and plenty of protests at the state capitol. The measure now needs to advance out of committee in the House of Representatives and face a full floor vote before it can become law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Keeping undocumented children out of schools is a civil rights violation
HB793/SB836, a proposed bill, with one version requiring proof of citizenship before enrolling students in Tennessee schools, challenges a fundamental right: access to education. This bill is not just an administrative requirement but an attack on the lives of Tennessee's children, their futures, and the promise of equality in our public education system. I understand the struggle of having to prove your right to exist, to participate, to belong. I was raised in rural Tennessee during the 1950s, a time when registering the birth of a Black girl was not a priority. As a result, I spent my early years undocumented, despite being a citizen. Without a birth certificate, I had no proof of being born in the state I called home. I have also witnessed the frustration of families trying to gather the necessary paperwork to enroll a child in school. The process is often lengthy, confusing, and burdened with bureaucratic red tape, discouraging many from completing it. HB793/SB836 disregards these obstacles and creates unnecessary barriers to education. As a former school board member in Haywood County and former president of the Tennessee School Board Association, I know the strain this bill would put on our under-resourced schools. Teachers and administrators are already stretched thin; now we're asking them to become immigration officers. It is an unrealistic expectation that will further burden our schools and leave vulnerable students behind. But the most dangerous aspect of HB793/SB836 is its impact on our community as a whole. This bill is not just a challenge for one group; it is an attack on all of us. Its goal is to overturn the constitutional precedent of Plyler v. Doe, which guarantees all children access to free public education, a practice that has been in place for over 150 years. History shows that when one group is denied basic rights, it creates division, fear, and a climate where no one is truly safe. This bill fuels those divisions and undermines the values of inclusion, equality, and justice that we hold dear. To protect the right to learn for all children, the Tennessee NAACP helped launch Education for All Tennessee, a coalition of over 60 organizations across the state. Now, the NAACP, both in Tennessee and nationally, stands firmly against HB793/SB836. Opinion: Trump's deportations emboldened GOP. But they're going after kids, not criminals This bill will create more division, hardship, and barriers for Tennessee's children. It is time to stand up for our future and the promise of a public education system that welcomes every child, regardless of background or circumstance. The fight for educational justice is a fight for human rights, and today, it continues. It is up to all of us to ensure every child in Tennessee has a fair chance at the future they deserve. When we deny opportunity to one group, we diminish opportunities for all. Education is the key to our collective future, and we cannot afford to leave anyone behind. Let's reject HB793/SB836. Let's unite for our children — and for the future of Tennessee. Gloria Jean Sweet-Love has been president of the Tennessee State Conference NAACP since January 1996. She is a member of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP and currently serves as Chair of the Southeast Region V NAACP Leadership caucus. She has attained a number of firsts in her life including the first African American woman elected to the Haywood County School Board, first African American woman elected as president of the Tennessee School Board Association, and first African American woman to be appointed by the governor as a member of the Peace Officers Standards & Training Commission. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN GOP would deny students their right to an education. | Opinion
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Key Tennessee committee passes bill that could bar undocumented kids from schools
A key Tennessee House committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow schools to block undocumented children from enrollment, one of the most controversial measures of the 2025 legislative session. For some Republicans, the legislation has emerged as an avatar of the frustration with what they call a broken immigration system across the country. The bill's sponsors have admitted the state would likely be quickly sued over the legislation if it becomes law. The bill's sponsors hope to trigger a critical legal battle to potentially challenge a longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent that all children have a right to access public education. Education advocates and Democrats sharply criticized Republicans for targeting children in their effort to make a statement on immigration issues and elevate a legal case before the current conservative Supreme Court. 'We should not put our children – the least of us, those who cannot do for themselves – in the middle of an adult battle,' said Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville. 'This is a bully bill doing just that.' House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, is sponsoring the legislation and argued schools should at least be able to gather data on the number of undocumented students in their student population. Under current federal law, schools cannot ask for citizenship documentation. "Each [school system] should be able to make the determination on their own as to whether or not they wish to check the immigration of the student who is trying to enroll in that school," Lamberth said. The Education Committee chair called for an abrupt vote Wednesday night after a handful of audience members stood and began singing the song, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Two Democrats on the committee said they couldn't even hear the call for the vote, but their voting terminals lit up and they quickly cast the vote. The bill passed on an 11-7 vote, drawing Republican opposition from the committee chair, Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis. Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, and Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray, also voted against the legislation with the committee's three Democrats. Republican lawmakers quickly left the committee room after the vote while dozens of protestors stomped and clapped, shouting "Every student counts." In the amended version of HB 793, schools could choose to require all students to prove legal citizenship or immigration status, but schools do not have to require the documentation. Schools could also block students without legal status from enrolling or choose to charge those students tuition to enroll in the school. The amended bill appears to align with a Senate amendment that was supposed to be heard on Tuesday. The Senate bill was delayed and won't be heard until next week. Nashville resident Karla MacIntyre testified against the bill, telling lawmakers she grew up in Tennessee as an undocumented child after her mother, a domestic violence survivor, 'had the courage to immigrate to the U.S. to give her two daughters a chance at survival.' MacIntyre, who later graduated high school and earned two higher education degrees, noted her mother would not have been able to afford tuition for her if this bill had passed during her childhood and her local school chose to charge students. MacIntyre praised the Tennessee educators who encouraged her to work hard and strive for success. 'These diplomas are a testament to the importance of education in shaping our future and helping the growth of our state,' MacIntyre said. Jenny Mills McFerron from EdTrust Tennessee also testified against the bill, warning lawmakers of the downstream effects of denying children an education. 'What happens when thousands of children are locked out of classrooms? What would it look like if there were thousands of children in our communities who never learned how to read?' McFerron asked. Republicans who support the measure have repeatedly said local schools shouldn't have to bear the costs of educating children without legal immigration status, citing rising rates of English as a second language instruction in the state. "We have to get a handle on this moving forward, and I don't see another trigger here unless we challenge Plyler v. Doe in court," said Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, referencing the Supreme Court case the legislation seeks to challenge. Still, McFerron noted a large majority of English learners in schools are U.S. citizens, while Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, argued all undocumented immigrants pay into Tennessee's tax structure. The state heavily relies on sales taxes, paid anytime someone buys groceries of pays for gas, rather than an income tax. "We know that every undocumented immigrant in Tennessee pays all the same taxes and actually gets fewer benefits. They are paying their fair share," Johnson said. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN committee passes bill that could bar undocumented students
