Tennessee State House Speaker Cameron Sexton has proposed legislation to reject about $1.8 billion in federal funding for public education. This would make Tennessee the first state in the nation to give the federal government the boot when it comes to public education. Although the specifics of the legislation are not yet drafted, Governor Bill Lee looks forward to working with the Republican majority to make this happen for the Volunteer State.

Without a doubt, Democrat legislators came out in opposition to such a proposal. The narrative they are running with is that of, Tennessee cannot afford this. When we look at the numbers, Tennessee can afford this. The $1.8 billion in federal funding equates to about $1,172 per student. The state of Tennessee continues to be fiscally conservative, with its surplus being in the billions. What could possibly happen if Tennessee rejects federal funding?

Tennessee can customize its education to what Tennesseans really need without having to worry about the strings that come attached with federal dollars. Parents nationwide have been concerned about the dangerous ideologies pushed by the Biden administration that have been found in the classroom. From critical race theory to gender ideology, parents from the entire political spectrum have voiced their concerns through local school board meetings only to be deemed domestic terrorists.

The Epoch Times reports that House Speaker Sexton is considering such a historic proposal due to a large grassroots effort from political refugees who have moved from blue states to red states like Tennessee. Furthermore, it is reported that parents “have been demanding reforms in a system that has been infiltrated by critical race theory and also various versions of age-inappropriate sexual education. While these refugees had come to Tennessee to escape such things in blue states, they were deeply disappointed to find that at least in terms of the schools, they were running to stay in place, in great degree due to federal intervention.”

The U.S. Department of Education was established in 1979 and is considered one of the newer departments within our country. It is possible to educate Americans without the Department of Education. Its abolition won’t be coming anytime soon, so the most logical solution would be for states to bravely reject the DOE. Other states such as South Carolina and Oklahoma are considering similar legislation. Tennessee taking the lead could cause a trickle effect among conservative states.

Tennessee has a bright future, as the state continues to buckle down on its conservative values. The current legislative session is showing promise in passing laws that will prohibit the mutilation of children and prohibit children from experiencing sexualized drag shows. Saying goodbye to the federal funding of public education could be another bold stance that Tennessee takes. Critics could and should move to states like California, Washington, or New York. They won’t, of course, because they want to benefit from conservative leadership.