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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
HB0793 / SB0836 which aims to authorize Tennessee Public Schools to unenroll or refuse enrollment of illegal immigrant students is scheduled to be heard in the TN House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on Monday, April 14th.
Among the many reasons it is important for this legislation to pass is the exponential increase in taxpayer funding for English-Language-Learner (ELL) education in our state and the burden the presence of the foreign students places on local school districts and teachers.
Under this legislation, if a student is determined to be unlawfully present, public school districts in Tennessee can refuse to enroll that student, unenroll that student, or charge that student tuition at a rate consistent with the out-of-county charge for that district.
Families who might want to challenge the determination that their child is illegal could participate in an appeals process that would go up to the state Department of Education.
The sponsors of this legislation have reiterated many times that this is a permissive bill, not requiring, but simply giving public schools the option to require students to provide proof of citizenship.
Even with the bill being “permissive,” if passed into law, the legislation would give parents and stakeholders the groundwork needed to pressure school boards to utilize the law to improve local public school districts and use our taxpayer dollars to fund the education of U.S. citizens only.
If you support HB0793, please contact the members of the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee prior to their meeting on Monday, April 14th.
Contact information below:
HB0793/SB0836 Authorizes LEAs & Public Charter Schools To Refuse To Enroll Students Who Are Unlawfully Present In The U.S.
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kip.capley@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov
rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov
rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov
rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov
rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov
