Image Credit: TN General Assembly, Jefferson County GOP Executive Committee & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –
Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma), Representatives Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) and Jody Barrett (R-Dickson) introduced legislation that will provide families in Tennessee with true educational freedom for their children.
A formal resolution made by the Jefferson County Republican Party Executive Committee in support is pictured below.
The Bowling-Warner proposal, SB494 and HB552 “Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act” will codify that “Parents and legal guardians have the right to direct the education of their children, including, but not limited to, the right to choose whether their child’s education is received through a public school, private school, or home school.
If a parent or legal guardian elects to conduct a home school pursuant to this SB0494 [HB552] then neither the state nor a local government or agency in this state may infringe on the rights of the parent or legal guardian to make decisions concerning their child’s home school education, including, but not limited to, the curriculum, courses of study, and methods of instruction selected or used.”
The full text of the bills is provided at this link. SB494 / HB 552.
Representative Barrett is proposing a constitutional amendment HJR 92 that would add the following language to the state constitution to eliminate all regulatory requirements on parents concerning the education of their children, also supported by the Jefferson County Resolution.
“The State, nor any political subdivision thereof, shall not interfere with a parent’s right to make decisions for the upbringing of their own child through the adoption or enforcement of any law or rule that abridges, infringes upon, or otherwise restricts a parent’s right to provide home-based education for their own child. The State, nor any political subdivision thereof, shall not impose any regulatory requirements upon any such home-based education. The rights defined herein shall not be forfeited or waived by the acceptance of any publicly funded education scholarship, grant, stipend, or voucher provided by the State or any political subdivision thereof. This section shall not be construed to permit the State, or any subdivision thereof, to compel attendance at any specific educational institution, nor to impose compulsory attendance laws that restrict or limit a parent’s right to educate their child in the home.”
The Jefferson County Republican Party Executive Committee Resolution encourages other republican organizations and grassroots groups to adopt the same and transmit to their state legislative delegation.
A template of the resolution is provided HERE.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
AMEN!!