SB827 exempts fully online, self-paced private schools from certain regulations. The State Board of Education can no longer mandate these schools adhere to rules on class size, school calendar, vaccination requirements, or student assessments to qualify as Category III nonpublic schools—simplifying regulatory hurdles for online private-education providers.
The Tennessee State Senate passed SB827 on March 20, 2025 by a vote of 26 to 5. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill takes an important step toward reducing government overreach in education by exempting fully online, self-paced private schools from unnecessary regulations. Education is not a proper function of government, and SB827 supports the fundamental right of parents to direct their children’s education—an unalienable right protected by the U.S. Constitution. By removing state-imposed mandates on class size, calendars, testing, and vaccinations for these private institutions, the bill affirms educational freedom and encourages innovation outside the failing public system. We urge all parents to take control of their children’s education and pursue sound alternatives, such as homeschooling or independent, patriotic private schools like FreedomProject Academy, which remain free from government funding and control.
