School voucher voter polls vary wildly in Tennessee as many legislative candidates skirt the issue
While Gov. Bill Lee’s universal school voucher proposal is clearly a key issue this election year, there is less agreement on where Tennessee voters stand on the contentious education policy, incentivizing many state legislative candidates to avoid discussing the matter.
Judge panel clears new law to go into effect banning unions from deducting dues from teacher paychecks
Tennessee’s new law banning unions from deducting dues from teacher paychecks is clear to go into effect.A panel of three Davidson County Chancery Court judges issued an order Friday denying the Tennessee Education Association’s (TEA) request for a temporary injunction of the new law.
Tennessee teachers sue over “prohibited concepts” Tennessee law
Five public school teachers joined the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) to file a lawsuit challenging the state’s so-called “prohibited concepts” law, restricting what can be taught on race, gender, and unconscious bias in public classrooms.The lawsuit asks for the court to declare the law unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment.“There is no group of individuals more passionate and committed to ensuring Tennessee students receive a high-quality education than public school educators,” said Knox County Educator and Tennessee Education Association President Tanya T. Coats. “This law interferes with Tennessee teachers’ job to provide a fact-based, well-rounded education to their students.”
State argues unions representing teachers need to pay their own way
The future of a state law that bans unions from deducting dues from teacher paychecks is now in the hands of three Davidson County chancellors.That panel of Chancery Court judges heard arguments on the payroll deduction ban Thursday afternoon from the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) and the Tennessee Attorney General's office.
Tennessee Attorney General says lawsuit that could delay teacher raises lacks merit
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office fired back at a recently filed lawsuit by the Tennessee Education Association (TEA), saying the suit “lacks merit” to succeed.The TEA filed that lawsuit last month to challenge a provision of the “Teacher Paycheck Protection Act” passed by the Tennessee General Assembly related to union dues.
Tennessee Education Association files lawsuit that could delay teacher raises
The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) filed a legal challenge this week that could delay recently passed teacher raises.The TEA’s lawsuit challenges a provision of the “Teacher Paycheck Protection Act” Governor Lee signed last month. The legislation is set to raise the minimum teacher salary to $42,000 in July, but the TEA is objecting to a section that also prevents unions like it from deducting dues from teacher paychecks.
House includes paycheck protection in legislation to raise teacher salaries after initially voting against it
In a surprising move, members of the Tennessee House re-included the paycheck protection provision of legislation to raise teacher salaries minutes after voting it down.That provision would prevent unions and professional organizations from deducting dues from teacher paychecks. The section has faced opposition from the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) and a House committee added an amendment to the legislation in the committee process to remove the provision.
House committee keeps paycheck protection in Governor Lee’s legislation to raise teacher salaries
Members of the House Education Administration Committee advanced Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to raise teacher salaries to at least $50 thousand by the 2026/2027 school year, but not without a lengthy debate over the bill’s paycheck protection provision.That section of the legislation would prohibit school districts from deducting dues from teacher paychecks for organizations and unions, including the Tennessee Education Association (TEA).
Tennessee teachers spend more on candidate contributions than Amazon. New legislation could change that.
The union that represents Tennessee teachers made it crystal clear this week that it's not happy with Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to stop school districts from automatically deducting dues from teacher paychecks.
Tennessee teachers spend more on candidate contributions than Amazon. New legislation could change that.
The union that represents Tennessee teachers made it crystal clear this week that it's not happy with Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to stop school districts from automatically deducting dues from teacher paychecks.