Tennessee Republicans Link Immigration Status to School Funding
Tennessee Republicans are strategizing to connect students’ immigration status to public school funding by proposing a series of amendments to the Private School Tuition Subsidy Expansion Act. This move represents a quiet yet significant merger of two major issues in the Legislature, especially as the chances for other student-tracking legislation diminish.
On Tuesday, immigration advocates expressed cautious optimism in the halls of the Cordell-Hull Capitol Building following the passage of a bill mandating that workers in schools, hospitals, local governments, and other public organizations monitor the immigration status of individuals utilizing their services. This legislation is seen as a potential setback for those who feared similar measures might emerge.
House Bill 1711 is part of a broader array of anti-immigrant legislation introduced in collaboration with the Trump administration. Although initially intended for consideration by the Senate State and Local Government Committee, it is unlikely to advance further before the end of the current biannual session.
The emergence of House Bill 1711 aligns with recent signals from Sen. Bo Watson (R-North Chattanooga), who expressed his reluctance to follow the House’s version of House Bill 793. This latter bill, which focuses on decriminalizing immigration-related school tracking, directly challenges the Supreme Court’s 1982 ruling in Plyler v. Doe. The ruling ensured that students, regardless of their immigration status, have access to public education. Both chambers have introduced different iterations of the bill, leaving its future uncertain as the session progresses.
With significant challenges anticipated for tracking-specific legislation, Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) and Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) have introduced an amendment to House Bill 2532, which seeks to double the available private school tuition subsidies. This amendment could necessitate tracking student immigration statuses in public schools to secure state funding.
The flat tuition program, established last year, included a “hold harmless” provision. This means that even if a student transfers to a private school and is subsequently expelled, public school districts will continue to receive funding from the state at the same per-pupil rate as in the previous year.
Each proposed amendment specifies that per-pupil funding will only apply to the number of students who can provide proof of their immigration status. This effectively sets the stage for potential reductions in funding for undocumented students in public schools if school districts experience cutbacks in private school tuition programs.
The amendment, pending approval for incorporation into the bill, lacks clarity concerning whether school districts will be required to report immigration statuses, particularly if they do not seek reimbursement. Currently, legal status is mandatory for students receiving private school subsidies.
Late Tuesday, Williams continued working on the amendment but did not provide comments on developments. A spokesperson for Speaker Sexton also did not respond to requests for clarification.
The House committee meeting on Wednesday is anticipated to serve as a pivotal moment for the tuition assistance bill prior to the inclusion of immigration tracking provisions.
