Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
The Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act was heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday night, public testimony was given in support of the legislation, and the bill was rolled to next week’s calendar without a vote.
The FREE Act in one form or another is already active in 12 states.
These states include Alaska, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Connecticut, and as of this year, Wyoming.
Key points on Senate Bill 494 (SB0494), brought up by bill sponsor Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) in committee:
- The FREE Act would not cost the state of Tennessee anything.
- The FREE Act offers homeschool families in Tennessee true educational choice by empowering them and putting them in the driver’s seat of their children’s education.
- The FREE Act creates an additional, separate, and distinct category for homeschool families who desire complete educational autonomy.
- The FREE Act does not replace any of the current three legal homeschool options in Tennessee. It simply adds a 4th one.
Currently, SB0494 is co-sponsored by Senators Joey Hensley and Adam Lowe.
“Families could still choose to register under any of the current legal homeschool options. This bill would create an additional choice for homeschool families,” said Sen. Bowling.
Sen. Bowling further explained that this new homeschooling category would not be an option for families wanting to utilize Education Freedom Scholarship funds or for families wanting to participate in any government affiliated program like TSSAA sports.
“Every legislator that claims they believe that parents are the best equipped to make educational decisions for their children should also lend their support,” Sen. Bowling stated in conclusion. “This is true school choice. We’re simply asking that our constitutional rights be recognized as they have been in other states.”
Homeschool graduate, now homeschool father and Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Attorney, Samuel Johnson, shared public testimony in support of the FREE Act.
“Throughout this country’s history, from the very foundation of our Republic, our legal tradition has emphasized two things, freedom and strong families,” said Johnson. “We believe at HSLDA that parents do no co-parent with the state.”
“Those children were given to us by God. Our children have been given to us and therefore, we have the primary responsibility to determine how they will be educated and as the Supreme Court has determined, Parham v. J.R. (1979), parents have the strongest natural interest in the wellbeing and flourishing of their children,” Johnson continued. “We believe the Supreme court was right in that determination and the FREE Act honors the determination of the Supreme Court and the tradition of law that has been in this Republic since its very foundation.”
For those interested in listening to the testimony that two other Tennessee homeschool parents provided during committee, click here. Public testimony begins at timestamp 1:49:57.
Ultimately, the FREE Act was rolled to next week’s calendar on a technicality that could have been fixed via a verbal amendment in committee.
“It wasn’t passed today, but I thought it was a very good conversation amongst the Senators that sat on that committee and I appreciate their willingness to hear what we had to say about it,” Tiffany Boyd with Free YOUR Children told Tennessee Conservative News. “They seemed supportive, so I really hope that they will follow through next week and actually pass the FREE Act.”
For more information on the FREE Act from Sen. Bowling, a veteran homeschool parent herself, click here.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
