Image Credit: TN General Assembly & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A proposal to amend the state’s constitution in order to protect the freedom of Tennessee parents to homeschool will be heard in the House K-12 Subcommittee on Thursday, March 4th, 2025.
Sponsored by Representative Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69), House Joint Resolution 0092 (HJR0092) affirms that a parent has “the inherent and fundamental right to direct the upbringing of the parent’s child, including, but not limited to, the right to direct the education of the parent’s child.”
A change of this kind to the state’s constitution would guarantee that state government, including political subdivisions, could not interfere with parental decisions regarding homeschooling, and abolish all regulatory requirements.
The resolution would also ensure that the freedom to homeschool as parents see fit could not be compromised by accepting “any publicly funded education scholarship, grant, stipend, or voucher provided by the State or any political subdivision thereof.”
Last year, during debates on Governor Bill Lee’s school voucher plan, homeschooling organizations adamantly opposed being included in Lee’s plan. Due to government regulations encroaching on homeschooling freedoms in other states once school choice programs were implemented, the majority of Tennessee homeschool parents and advocates want nothing to do with state funds.
Barrett has said that by amending the constitution, homeschool families would be able to participate in voucher programs in the future without fear of losing their autonomy. The school choice legislation which passed during the special session earlier this year excluded homeschooling families.
National advocacy group Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) supports Barrett’s resolution.
HSLDA has also announced support for legislation filed this session that has been crafted by Tennessee’s Free YOUR Children.
The “Family Right to Educational Emancipation Act” or the “FREE Act” is being sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) and Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill-District 92.)
Free YOUR Children’s Tiffany Boyd has stated that the legislation was written to give complete and total educational autonomy to Tennessee parents.
Anyone who supports Barrett’s resolution may contact Subcommittee members before Tuesday.
Contact information for members of the House K-12 Subcommittee can be found below.
rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov, rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Thanx! Emailed them “YES!!”.