U.S. Department of Education declines to meet with Tennessee committee

(The Center Square) – The third day of presentations for Tennessee’s committee to examine rejecting federal funding for its K-12 schools did not include a presentation from the U.S. Department of Education as an agenda indicated.

Instead, Committee Co-chair Jon Lundberg informed the committee the department would not attend the meeting but would attempt to answer any submitted questions from the group.

Instead, the committee heard from Austin Reid, senior legislative director for the National Conference of State Legislatures, who detailed his group’s interpretations of what the federal government can and cannot require from schools in states receiving funding and some of the evolution of those requirements.

Reid also went over other states that have challenged federal requirements related to education funding, including an Oklahoma bill that did not pass but would have phased out federal funding over a 10-year span.

The committee is scheduled to meet again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and then at both 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Nov. 15.

The group has been assigned to prepare a report for the Tennessee Legislature on the topic by Jan. 9.