Tennessee Bill on Undocumented Student Enrollment Stirs Debate

Tennessee faces controversy with proposed legislation HB 793/SB 836 that would allow schools to refuse enrollment to undocumented students, drawing opposition from Murfreesboro City Schools and the Hamilton County Principal Association, who cite the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe which guarantees education rights to all children. The bill's potential enforcement could cost Tennessee up to $1.1 billion in federal education funding, raising concerns about discrimination and division within communities. In Florida, similar legislative issues arise as bills like HB 5101/SB 2510 threaten funding cuts to popular acceleration programs in public schools, sparking opposition from students, parents, and school districts worried about increased costs for families and reduced educational opportunities. Additionally, Florida's SB 1618 aims to refine educational regulations, prohibiting the use of state and federal funds for social or political activism in schools, which has ignited debate over the interpretation and implementation of these restrictions.