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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A Christian nonprofit organization is suing the Knox County Board of Education for discriminating against a proposed charter school.
Nonprofit Wilberforce Academy of Knoxville filed the lawsuit on November 30th in Tennessee’s Eastern District Court.
Named for the British member of parliament, and devout Christian, who actively worked to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire in 1807, the nonprofit’s leaders chose conservative law firm Consovoy McCarthy to represent them.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that laws governing charter schools in Tennessee violate the Free Exercise Clause by prohibiting religious or sectarian schools from operating as charter schools.
The lawsuit also argues that the provisions in the law that prevent the state from allowing “sectarian” institutions to operate charters were originally “born of bigotry” as they were made to discriminate against Jewish and Catholic organizations.
While the state allows private organizations to run charter schools, religious entities are excluded by law, even if they plan to run their school in a nonsectarian manner.
Wilberforce Academy leaders made an attempt at the end of November to apply to operate a charter school in Cedar Bluff, after having filed organizational paperwork with the state, but were unsuccessful due to state law. The nonprofit’s registered agent William D. Edwards, an attorney in West Knoxville, listed the organization as “Non-Religious” in the paperwork.
The academy planned to open by the 2027-2028 school year for Kindergarten through 8th Grade, starting out with 100 students and hoped to grow to 450 students.
Wilberforce spokesperson, and current principal at Rivers Edge Christian Academy, Zachary Wishart has acknowledged that the academy aims to be an “unapologetically Christian charter school.”
Nevertheless, according to the lawsuit, the would-be school would have accepted students coming from homes where a different faith is practiced.
Wishart also said that Wilberforce filed the suit to end religious discrimination and so that “people of faith” can be allowed to participate in the charter process.
Plaintiffs also argue that the law preventing Wilberforce from opening a charter school goes against the state’s general support for religious schools, pointing to the new School Choice program which distributed the majority of scholarships to schools that are religiously affiliated.
The $447 million statewide Education Freedom Scholarship Program (EFS) is currently funding several Muslim institutions.
One of the schools listed on the state’s website as eligible for receiving public funds is Pleasant View School in Memphis. The school’s slogan is “Excellence in Education Through Islam.”
Other Muslim options on the EFS list include Annoor Academy of Chattanooga, Annoor Academy of Knoxville, Nashville International Academy, and Zohor Academy USA, which is an online school based in another state.
Wilberforce leaders have pointed out that the majority of the schools receiving EFS funds are religious in nature.
Beginning at the start of the current 2025-2026 school year, the voucher program allows all students who can attend a Tennessee public school to be eligible to receive state funds – approximately $7,300 – for private K-12 school tuition.
Wilberforce Academy planned to teach students catechisms and to be biblically literate. As part of the morning routine, students would engage in reading bible verses, praying, singing, and reciting confessions and creeds.
Along with a focus on business and entrepreneurship, the school also aimed to inspire public service in the style of its namesake.
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About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
