From NewsChannel 9: State lawmakers have different opinions when it comes to the idea of Tennessee rejecting federal funding for education. House
From NewsChannel 9: State lawmakers have different opinions when it comes to the idea of Tennessee rejecting federal funding for education. House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Governor Randy McNally put together a group of lawmakers to dig into the idea.
Some Republicans believe Tennessee should reject federal funding for education because the feds have too many restrictions on how children are educated.
Others believe this money is necessary to fund lower income students and students with disabilities.
Federal funds make up 10% of education funding, according to the watchdog group Beacon Center of Tennessee.
“If they are requiring a lot of things that we don’t think we need to do in Tennessee, then I think it’s a worthwhile endeavor,” Sen. Joey Hensley said.
Senator Hensley, who is a part of Joint Working Group, says federal dollars come with a lot of requirements and restrictions, which he explains affects how all our money is spent on education.
“If they’re causing us to spend more money than we are receiving from the federal government and we are not receiving benefits that we couldn’t provide for ourselves, then I think we should reject it,” Sen. Hensley emphasized.
However, Rep. John Ray Clemmons argues the more than a billion dollars that comes from the federal government is critical for public schools and special resources.
“The federal dollars provide vital resources to Title 1 schools, struggling and minority communities, they provide vital resources for special education students through the idea law,” Rep. Clemmons explained.
Clemmons emphasizes it’s going to have a negative impact.
“No other state is dumb enough to do this. I mean this is so fiscally irresponsible, this is so discriminatory,” Rep. Clemmons said.
JC Bowman, CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee, says it comes down to the Tennessee Department of Education.
“Do we trust the Tennessee Department of Education to oversee an additional $1.8 billion in money and right now? I don’t think the trust is there. It hasn’t been for the last four or five years,” Bowman said.
Bowman says if this were to happen, they would be the ones choosing how to spend the money and develop the curriculum.
There is no date or time yet for the first meeting of this group to discuss federal education funding.
