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If Tennessee Republicans move forward to impose a state-backed takeover of Memphis-Shelby County schools, the district’s hands may be tied from challenging the state intervention’s legitimacy in court.
Tennessee school districts would be blocked from using their budgets to pay for lawsuits challenging any state-imposed accountability measures under a new bill making its way through the General Assembly. Districts could still sue the state if other organizations like legal defense funds foot the legal bills.
Senate Republicans passed Sen. Brent Taylor’s Senate Bill 712 on Thursday, though the House version awaits a pivotal House Education Committee vote. Though the legislation is written broadly to block districts from funding lawsuits to challenge accountability measures, it comes just days before lawmakers are expected to unveil a renewed effort to seize major controls from the locally elected Memphis school board.
Taylor said Thursday he believes the measure would apply to state intervention efforts.