The Hamilton County Principals Association has come out against a bill sponsored by a Chattanooga lawmaker that would make it possible for public school systems to deny enrollment to children without legal immigration status.
The association released a statement Wednesday asking the Hamilton County school board to commit to allowing access to education for all school-age children in Hamilton County, regardless of immigration status.
“As leaders of public schools across Hamilton County, we stand firmly in the belief that every child and every community must be served,” the statement said. “Public education in the United States is a right afforded to all children, regardless of their background or immigration status.”
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Bo Watson, R-North Chattanooga, would require public and charter schools in Tennessee to verify students enrolled are legal residents of the U.S., prior to enrollment. Districts would then have the opportunity to charge unauthorized students tuition and potentially deny them enrollment.
“This is a fiscal issue, despite what people might think or say,” Watson said in a committee meeting March 5, “and I am willing to stand here and take the slings and arrows, the criticisms and the name calling because I have a responsibility to the financial oversight of our state and our subdivisions.”
Watson supported the bill by saying it would reduce costs of English as a second language courses. He referenced a rescinded resolution from Rutherford County Schools that said the increased number of English as a second language students was causing financial pressures. Recent reporting from the Nashville Banner found the financial impacts of the bill are unclear.
Greg Wilkey, the president of the association, is the principal of Hamilton County’s East Side Elementary. The school posted a statement supporting its Latino families in early February on social media.
“We have worked to make our school a safe place for all of our families,” East Side teacher Amanda Edens said in a phone interview, speaking only for herself as an educator. “Our families know that we support them, that we are here for them, and it’s not just empty words because it’s something that takes a little bit of risk, a little bit of courage to do.”
The bill directly contradicts Plyer v. Doe, a longstanding U.S. Supreme Court ruling that guarantees all school-age children access to a public education, regardless of immigration status.
Edens said she hasn’t heard anyone in an education setting argue in support of the bill. She wrote an open letter to Watson and disseminated it on a social media page for local educators and gained around a hundred signatures.
“I entered this field because I wanted to serve students and their families, and that didn’t have any sort of asterisk beside it,” Edens said. “It was to serve the students who came to me in a public school, and without any further delineation between demographics. That is why I am here. That is why nearly every person who works in public education got into this field.”
The statement from the principals association said educators’ mission is to create safe environments for all students to thrive.
“Efforts to exclude children from school due to their immigration status undermine this mission, threaten the well-being of vulnerable communities and harm the future of our nation,” the statement said.
The association’s statement was the latest in a series of protests. On Monday, a group of Tennessee faith leaders released an open letter stating the bill contradicts Scripture and the teachings of Jesus. At the end of March, some 200 community members gathered at First Christian Church to rally in opposition to the bill.
In a statement, Watson said he supports every citizen’s right to peaceful advocacy.
“The legislative process is built on open dialogue, and I remain committed to ensuring all perspectives are heard,” the statement said. “Senate Bill 836 is an important policy discussion, and I welcome thoughtful engagement as we navigate this issue together.”
Contact Kailee Shores at kshores@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.