Monthly Archives: March 2025

Posted on by

USDA Cuts Hit TN Farmers, Schools

Still waiting for Gov. Bill Lee to condemn the cuts

A program that both helps schools provide meals to kids and offers a source of income for Tennessee farmers has been cut by the Musk-Trump administration.

With nearly 300,000 food-insecure students and more than $50 million in school lunch debt, Tennessee can hardly afford to lose even a penny of federal funding for school meals. Thanks to Musk’s DOGE agenda, though, the Volunteer State will be out $20 million.

The Guardian reports:

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has slashed two programs that provided more than $1bn for schools and food banks to purchase food from local farms and ranchers.

A chart of awards for the two local food programs funded by the USDA tells the story of how much states stand to lose as a result of the cuts.

Tennessee was awarded more than $20 million for these efforts in FY 2025.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

The Trump-Christian Nationalist Alliance

Vouchers Kill Public Education

MORE TENNESSEE NEWS

Speaking Out on Watson’s Immigration Bill

Fighting for Medical Debt Relief

Posted on by

Bo Watson and Immigrant Education

It seems some of Sen. Bo Watson’s constituents are not too excited about his bill to essentially force Tennessee into a showdown with a Supreme Court decision on educating the children of undocumented immigrants.

Rev. Laura Becker, pastor of Northminster Presbyterian Church, refers to the effect of the bill as “harmful discrimination.”

“Not only am I a parent, a pastor, and a Tennessean, I’m a constituent of Bo Watson – the Senate sponsor of SB 0836 that allows school districts to refuse public school education to students based on their immigration status. I believe that every child is made in the image of God, and this kind of harmful discrimination against beloved children of God is offensive to me as a parent and as a pastor.”

exterior of school building in daytime
Photo by Mary Taylor on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Yes, Money Matters

Trump and Christian Nationalism

MORE TENNESSEE NEWS

Speaking Out on TN’s Death Penalty

Taking on Medical Debt

Posted on by

TN Lawmakers Seek to Deny Education to Some Kids

Move seeks to set up Supreme Court challenge over educating migrant children

A bill in the Tennessee legislature would allow school districts and charter schools to refuse to educate children who can’t prove their legal status. The move seeks to challenge a Supreme Court decision that requires that public schools provide education to all children, regardless of legal status.

The bills – HB793 and SB836 – would impact as many as 10,000 students, according to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute.

Currently, as a result of a Supreme Court decision (Plyler v. Doe), public school districts must educate all students, regardless of immigration status. The legislation aims to challenge that ruling and would allow schools to limit the provision of a free public education to only those children who could demonstrate citizenship or permanent legal status.

Cumberland Presbyterian pastor Rev. Joy Warren said of the bill:

“As a Christian pastor I believe that every child is made in the image of God and deserves the opportunity to attend a high quality public school in order to help them reach their full potential. So seeing this legislation that attacks our fundamental American rights and liberties that would take away the opportunity of immigrant children to attend public school is an attack on my values, both as an American and as a Christian. These politicians are scapegoating immigrants, including immigrant children, to divide and distract the American public.”

exterior of school building in daytime
Photo by Mary Taylor on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

The Christian Nationalist Move to Takeover America’s Schools

What Does Dismantling the Department of Education Mean?

MORE TENNESSEE NEWS

Sen. London Lamar Takes on Medical Debt

Rejecting Summer Food Aid for Kids