Tennessee Bill on Undocumented Students Advances

Tennessee lawmakers are advancing a controversial bill that would allow public schools to either refuse enrollment or charge tuition to undocumented students, challenging the 1982 Supreme Court decision guaranteeing free public education regardless of immigration status. The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. William Lamberth, has passed the House Education Committee and is awaiting further debate and a vote. Proponents argue that educating undocumented students is financially burdensome for the state, while opponents, including protesters at the Capitol, contend that education should be a universal right. This legislation could potentially provoke a Supreme Court challenge to revisit the Plyler v. Doe decision amid broader immigration policy debates. Meanwhile, in Kansas, lawmakers are considering a bill to ban registered sex offenders from school properties following a concerning incident at Blue River Elementary School. This bill has received bipartisan support and aims to ensure the safety of children at school events.