This op-ed was originally published in the Tennessean on February 25, 2025.
By Alexza Barajas Clark, Executive Director at EdTrust-Tennessee
Tennessee finds itself at the center of the education and immigration debate, and I’m at the intersection of both.
My father came to this country from Mexico in the 1970s, an engineer seeking opportunity. My mother’s citizenship was expedited because my grandfather was part of the U.S. farmworker Bracero Program.
Their immigrant journey is the American story − one of hard work, perseverance, and the pursuit of a better future.
The belief in the power of education was the foundation of their future and mine. That conviction led me to pursue a doctoral degree, my sister to become a pediatrician in Memphis, and my brother a marketing executive.
Now, as the executive director of EdTrust-Tennessee, I work to ensure that every single student in Tennessee has the opportunities and support they need to achieve success. Over the last five years, we have championed policies that put students first with data-driven solutions that expand college and workforce readiness for all.
And for over a decade, Tennessee has been a national leader in education progress. Smart policy decisions, committed educators and advocates propelled us from ranking 44th on the Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) to recently breaking into the top 20 states in student achievement.
Tennessee legislators propose bill targeting undocumented students
Our students have achieved some of the fastest improvements in fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores nationwide.
Additionally, Tennessee’s investment in postsecondary opportunities is a national model, with Tennessee Promise helping thousands of students attend college tuition-free. These investments have helped make Nashville (in particular), one of the fastest growing cities in America. Providing high quality education and access for all is a net positive for the Volunteer State.
Tennessee is now at a worrisome crossroads, reversing course and entertaining state legislative proposals like House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836 that would deny children access to public education based on their immigration status.
Sponsors of these harmful bills seek to defy the U.S. Constitution and our country’s long history of guaranteeing every child access to a free public education. Tennessee could be responsible for denying millions of children access to public school across the nation.
This is not who we are.
Schools are often the first place where immigrant families interact with the public sector − where they learn English, navigate new customs, and establish their place in the community. Educators work tirelessly to ensure that every child is welcome in our schools. They understand that education is not a privilege reserved for some − it is a fundamental right.
Yet, these same educators may now be forced to implement policies that contradict their core values and mission. Policies that would turn the front offices of our schools into immigration enforcement zones, with staff denying entry to their neighbors and forcing children into isolation. Asking our educators to enforce this law is contrary to their calling, and would create deep divisions in every community in our state.
We must not let that happen.
Uphold promise of and defend public education in the Volunteer State
Tennessee’s future depends on the success of all its children. Denying a child an education − any child − is economically and socially short-sighted. A well-educated population is the backbone of a thriving economy, a workforce prepared to face global competition, and a strong and safe democracy.
My parents came to this country believing in the power of education, and their story − our story − is that of generations of immigrant families who have contributed to Tennessee’s success.
Let’s uphold that promise and defend the noble purpose of public education. We must reject policies rooted in exclusion and fear and recommit ourselves to the values that have made Tennessee a leader in education progress.
Our children, our communities, and our nation’s future depend on it.
