A bill for the state to establish an oversight board for Memphis Shelby County Schools was approved by the Tennessee State Senate and House on Wednesday.
The vote in the House was 73-19. In the State Senate, the result was 27-6. The governor’s desk will soon receive the bill.
The law removes the presently elected council of much of its authority by establishing a nine-member body with contracting and budgeting authority.
State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) and State Representative Mark White (R-Memphis) said the following in a joint statement:
“Our unwavering commitment has always been and remains improving educational outcomes for students attending MSCS. By establishing an oversight board of qualified local professionals, we will finally resolve the chronic challenges that have held our schools back for far too long. This transformative step will strengthen students, families, teachers, and our entire community.
Senator London Lamar said, “This has nothing to do with the children; this is about control. Memphis is also a majority Black city, and while this was written for general application, we cannot overshadow the fact that the majority of students in Memphis Shelby County Schools are African American, more than any other county in this state, yet this is the only county being targeted, and they’re not even the lowest performing schools.”
JOINT STATEMENT
Today the Memphis-Shelby County Schools intervention bill passed both the House and the Senate.
Our unwavering commitment has always been and remains improving educational outcomes for students attending MSCS. By establishing an oversight board of qualified…
— Senator Brent Taylor (@SenBrentTaylor) April 23, 2026
