TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jun 12, 2026

federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s ban on religious charter schools will move forward after U.S. District Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. denied a motion by the Knox County Board of Education to dismiss the case, according to Chalkbeat Tennessee. The lawsuit was filed by Wilberforce Academy of Knoxville after the board requested assurance that the proposed charter school would operate as a nonreligious institution in compliance with state law. Atchley ruled that the academy was not required to submit a formal charter application before challenging what it argues is an unconstitutional barrier to applying. A trial is scheduled for January 2027. Other parties, including parents and charter school officials, argue opening the door to religious charter schools will result in charter schools being “classified and treated as private schools,” and effect Tennessee’s public school funding formula and disability protections.