What This Story Is About
- A Knoxville attorney says the reasoning in a federal judge’s ruling for Wilberforce Academy could apply to other religions seeking to open charter schools in Tennessee.
Why It Matters
- Attorney Josh Hedrick says the ruling could be referenced by other courts nationwide in similar cases, and that charter schools use public money.
What Happens Next
- Wilberforce still has to apply and meet the state’s other charter school requirements. Knox County Schools says the district and county law department are reviewing the opinion. Any appeal would go to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
For Context
- In December 2025, Wilberforce sued the Knox County Board of Education, arguing Tennessee’s nonreligious requirement for public charter schools amounted to “open and explicit discrimination against religion.”
Catch Up
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A Knoxville attorney says the legal reasoning in a federal judge’s ruling for a proposed Christian charter school could apply to other religions.
Josh Hedrick, a partner at Knox Defense, a Knoxville criminal defense firm, said the judge’s order applies specifically to Wilberforce Academy. He said the court’s reasoning could have broader implications for religious charter schools in Tennessee…