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Knox County school board debates 2026 legislative priorities as residents urge opposition to HB 793
Summary
Board members spent the work session revising 2026 legislative priorities and debated language to affirm that Knox County Schools will educate all resident children; public comment largely urged the board to oppose House Bill 793 and other proposals that would deny enrollment based on immigration status.
Knox County Board of Education members spent large portions of their Nov. 3 work session revising the district’s 2026 legislative priorities and weighing how strongly to oppose proposed state bills that would limit K‑12 enrollment based on immigration status.
The discussion centered on keeping several standing asks — including stabilizing federal education funding and supporting K–2 early‑literacy investments — while drafting a concise statement that the board can send to state lawmakers. Reverend Butler urged a short affirmation: "The Knox County Board of Education affirms that public schools exist to educate all children who reside in the district and asks that state policy support this foundational principle." Board members debated whether to include stronger language that explicitly mentions immigration status or to keep language shorter and framed as an "ask" rather than a demand.
Board members also discussed adding a specific request for K–2 interventions (tutoring, instructional materials and summer programs) to prevent third‑grade retention harms and to ensure early literacy investments produce measurable results. Staff noted some of those interventions have been funded temporarily through ESSER or Title programs but said there is no dedicated, statewide pre‑K or K–2 line item in the TISA allocation.
During public forum, more than a dozen residents urged the board to place a clear priority on protecting every child’s access to public education. Paul De Leon, a retired teacher, told the board: "I ask you to make it a legislative priority to push back against this cruel and unconstitutional measure," referencing state proposals he said would exclude immigrant students. Several other speakers cited the U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, arguing that denying access would violate constitutional protections and harm schools and communities.
Board members directed staff and volunteer board members to consolidate proposals and return with edited language for a December vote. No final changes to the legislative priorities were adopted at the Nov. 3 work session; members agreed on a process to produce a single, consolidated document and to allow individual items to be pulled for separate votes at the December meeting.
What’s next: staff and board volunteers will draft revised language and circulate it before the December meeting, when the board expects to vote on the 2026 priorities.
