Story updated on October 15 to include comment from Representative Fritts.¶
State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, who recently announced his bid for governor next year, was the only lawmaker to oppose continuing the Tennessee Department of Education during Wednesday’s legislative sunset hearings at the State Capitol.¶
Fritts did not elaborate on his opposition to extending the department’s operations in the Joint Government Operations Joint Evaluation Committee on Education, Health, and General Welfare hearing but he did provide a statement to the Tennessee Firefly on X.¶
“The feedback I receive from many professional educators does not indicate a great confidence in the effectiveness nor the efficiency of our current Dept of Education’s approach toward leading or establishing educational excellence.”¶
He went on to say, “A perceived over-emphasis on standardized testing that seems to diminish educator evaluation, in consultation with parents, is not yielding the results many expect. I hear concerns from homeschooling and public education entities. I think we need a refocus on mission, objectives, and constitutional authority of this organization… and others. While responsibility falls upon the legislature, many members look to the Department for guidance and subject matter expertise.”¶
The decision came as lawmakers reviewed whether to allow various state agencies to continue existing under Tennessee’s periodic “sunset” review process.¶
Monty Fritts Legislative History¶
Fritts was born in Rockwood, Tennessee, and served in the Tennessee Army National Guard and spent more than two decades working at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge before winning the House District 32 seat in 2023.¶
His legislative career drew statewide attention in 2024 when he sponsored and passed a bill prohibiting the release of chemicals into the atmosphere for the purpose of influencing weather or sunlight intensity, a measure critics dismissed as rooted in the debunked “chemtrails” conspiracy theory.¶
On education, Fritts broke with Gov. Bill Lee and 21 other Republicans earlier this year by voting against the administration’s Education Freedom Scholarship plan, which would allow parents to use taxpayer funds for private school tuition. On his campaign website, Fritts pledges to “end fiscally irresponsible, unconstitutional voucher programs” and has also voiced support for challenging the Plyler v. Doe U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which guarantees public education access to undocumented students.¶
Lawmakers Split on Charter Commission Renewal¶
The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, led by Executive Director Tess Stovall, was also up for a continuation vote. Stovall presented to lawmakers on Wednesday, outlining the commission’s work overseeingTennessee’s growing network of public charter schools.¶
Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated institutions that enter performance agreements, or “charters,” with an authorizing agency such as a local school district or the state commission.¶
During the hearing, Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, questioned Stovall about the experience level of the commission’s 20 full-time employees.¶
“How many of the 20 employees have taught in the classroom before?” Oliver asked.¶
Stovall responded that she did not have an exact number on hand but said she would provide a report, noting that several staff members have classroom teaching experience.¶
When it came time to vote on extending the commission’s existence, Oliver and Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville, were the only lawmakers to vote against continuation of the charter commission, despite charter schools outperforming comparable district-run public schools in Knoxville and in Nashville.¶
The Joint Government Operations Joint Evaluation Committee reviews each state department and agency at least once every eight years to determine whether it should be continued, restructured, or terminated.¶
