Knox County School Board Considers Taking a Stand Against Barriers for Undocumented Children to Attend Public Schools

The Knox County Board discussed adding a new legislative priority for the 2026 session.

The Knox County School Board is considering taking a stand against what could be one of the more controversial pieces of legislation next year.

Board members discussed adding a new legislative priority for next year at Monday’s work session to oppose any legislation that denies undocumented students access to a free public education.

The move follows legislation state lawmakers considered earlier this year that would allow school districts the option of refusing to enroll undocumented children or charging them tuition. The bill passed the State Senate but stalled in the House and could return when lawmakers reconvene in January.

The 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe guarantees that all children, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to a free public education, and supporters of the bill hoped it might be used to overturn that decision.

Concerns about the Impact on Teachers

Board Member Katherine Bike introduced the proposed legislative priority to oppose the legislation next year, warning that it could force educators into roles outside their mission.

“We’re supposed to be educating students, not checking immigration status,” Bike said.

Bike added that public education benefits communities as a whole and said the bill has already sparked fear among local families.

“Our students and families are very afraid right now,” she said. “I would love for them to feel like schools are a safe space. Public education is really for the good of everyone, even if you’re not a person participating in it.”

Knox County Students and Immigrants Speak Out

In Knox County, 13 public commenters urged the board to take a stand against the bill. No speakers or board members [SA1] spoke in favor of the legislation.

Among them was 12-year-old Damien Felipe. He told the board how much he loves school and how worried he is for friends who could be barred from class.

“Lately, I’ve heard ideas that could stop some of my friends from being able to go to school just because of where they were born,” Felipe said. “That makes me sad because school should be for everyone. Every child deserves to learn, to feel safe, and to dream big.”

Multiple speakers identified themselves as immigrants or children of immigrants and said public education shaped their futures.

Emma Ellis Kosiga was among them. She immigrated to the United States at age 13, and said school was a critical source of stability.

“For children of immigrants, school might be the only consistent, safe space in this world outside of their home, like it was for me,” she said.

Claudia Mata said her own son’s success would have been impossible under a law like the one lawmaker considered this year.

“If a law like this had existed years ago, my oldest son would have never been able to attend school in Knoxville,” Mata said. “He wouldn’t have gone on to be a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville, giving back to the community that gave him so much.”

Other Middle Tennessee Action

The Knox County School Board is expected to vote in December on whether to add this legislative priority for 2026.

Last week, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board voted 3–2 to table a similar resolution opposing the bill.

Board member and state representative Aaron Mayberry was part of the majority who rejected the resolution, arguing efforts in the General Assembly aim to fix a “broken” immigration system.