Tennessee revises its enforcement of law prohibiting classroom discussions about race and bias

Tennessee has issued new guidance on how they plan to discipline schools that teach banned concepts around race and gender.

It’s part of legislation passed this spring to limit classroom discussions around racism, white privilege and unconscious bias. Over the summer, the state Department of Education explained how the law will be monitored and enforced. The state also took some time to solicit public feedback.

In response, the state amended some of its measures including the financial penalty for larger districts, like Nashville, because some people argued that larger districts could afford the previous option of a million dollars per offense. Now, districts will have to pay 2% of its annual state funds per violations.

The state also extended the window of time for an alleged violation to be reported from 30 to 45 days.

But Diarese George, the director of the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance, says this law is ultimately a disservice to students and educators.

“This is the kind of legislature that impacts anybody who’s committed to being truthful in classrooms,” George says.

He worries that the law and its vagueness could discourage teachers from addressing issues around racism that are unfolding in real time — whether in current events or on school grounds.

“The same things we’re trying to remove educators from discussing, talking, teaching about, bringing into the classroom are the same things that are happening in school districts and schools systems across the state,” George explains.

The current guidance will remain in place until May. State officials want to take this school year to evaluate how enforcement goes before finalizing how filing and investigating complaints, appealing decisions and imposing penalties will work.