Tennessee lawmakers want schools to track, report undocumented students

Tennessee could become the first state to require proof of immigration status to enroll in public schools, which would challenge legal precedent.

“Plyler v. Doe” was a landmark 1982 Supreme Court decision that confirmed the right for all students — regardless of immigration status — to get a free K-12 public education. The result was that schools didn’t collect the immigration status of their students. Now, the Tennessee House has approved a bill that would require schools to track and report the legal status of students. Last year, the state Senate passed a partner bill that would allow schools to deny students enrollment who do not have legal status. The two chambers will meet to reconcile the bills.

Immigrant advocates have been expressing concern that if Tennessee does pass such a law, the constitutional right to an education could be in question for nearly 2 million children.