Erica Meltzer
@ericameltzer.bsky.social
National Editor at Chalkbeat. I write about education and politics. Reach me at [email protected]
The Tennessee proposal would collect citizenship status as part of school enrollment. It's not clear what would happen with that information, but I'm sure just collecting it would deter many families. www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
Tennessee GOP wants to make K-12 students verify their immigration status
It’s not yet clear how they would do so, or if the data could be used by ICE or state immigration enforcement.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:07 AM
The Tennessee proposal would collect citizenship status as part of school enrollment. It's not clear what would happen with that information, but I'm sure just collecting it would deter many families. www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
GOP lawmakers in at least five states pursued some version of this idea last year, but so far no state has actually done it.
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/08/r...
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/08/r...
No proof of citizenship, no public school: GOP state lawmakers target undocumented kids
In Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court ruled children have a right to attend public schools for free regardless of their immigration status. But GOP legislators in at least five states have introduced bi...
www.chalkbeat.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:07 AM
GOP lawmakers in at least five states pursued some version of this idea last year, but so far no state has actually done it.
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/08/r...
www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/08/r...
The Heritage Foundation laid out a plan before the election in which states would start charging undocumented families tuition, prompting a lawsuit that could be used to overturn Plyler.
www.chalkbeat.org/2024/04/09/p...
www.chalkbeat.org/2024/04/09/p...
Heritage Foundation lays out plan to end undocumented students’ rights to a free education
The conservative think tank with ties to Trump says it’s time to reconsider Plyler, the Supreme Court decision that said schools can’t charge tuition based on immigration status.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:07 AM
The Heritage Foundation laid out a plan before the election in which states would start charging undocumented families tuition, prompting a lawsuit that could be used to overturn Plyler.
www.chalkbeat.org/2024/04/09/p...
www.chalkbeat.org/2024/04/09/p...
A top Education Department official told us this week that they had not taken any specific steps to block undocumented children from school or to charge their parents tuition.
www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/14/l...
www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/14/l...
The Trump administration still hopes to persuade Congress to close the Ed. Department
Here’s what Lindsey Burke, a top Trump administration official and Project 2025 author, told us about funding cuts, students with disabilities, and more.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:07 AM
A top Education Department official told us this week that they had not taken any specific steps to block undocumented children from school or to charge their parents tuition.
www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/14/l...
www.chalkbeat.org/2026/01/14/l...