A new Tennessee law taking effect July 1 aims to give public school teachers more confidence to discuss Christianity’s role in American history without worrying they might run afoul of state policy.
The Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, sponsored by State Rep. Mark Cochran (R-Englewood), applies to both K-12 public schools and public colleges and universities across Tennessee. It clears the way for educators to teach about how Christian faith shaped the nation’s early development, covering topics like the Mayflower Compact, mentions of divine authority in the Declaration of Independence, the role religious leaders played in the country’s founding, and the backstory behind the national motto “In God We Trust.”
Cochran said the connection between American history and Christianity is hard to separate. “I think it’s almost impossible to teach American history without acknowledging Christianity’s impact on it,” he said.
According to Cochran, the law isn’t designed to force schools into adopting a new curriculum or requiring lessons on the topic. Instead, he described it as a safeguard for teachers who already want to bring these themes into their classrooms but may have been hesitant. “The primary motivation for the legislation was really to set some reassurance for our teachers to make sure those folks who want to teach these concepts that they know there’s nothing wrong with that,” Cochran said.
The legislation carries the name of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist, a choice Cochran said reflects lawmakers’ desire to recognize Kirk’s dedication to civil discourse and Christian conservative principles.
Not everyone expects the law to dramatically change what happens in Tennessee classrooms. JC Bowman, CEO and executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, said the practical effect on students may be minimal. “I don’t think they are going to notice much,” Bowman said, framing the law as more of a protective measure for teachers than a curriculum overhaul.
Bowman pointed to a bigger issue: there simply aren’t enough ready-made classroom resources for teachers who want to incorporate these lessons. “That’s my biggest complaint about this,” he said. “I mean, we passed legislation, and we go down that path towards something, and there’s not enough material already done.”
Cochran said he expects the Tennessee Department of Education to issue implementation guidance, but Bowman cautioned that without clear direction, individual schools and districts could end up interpreting the law inconsistently. “Academic freedom is really an important discussion to have, and I think the legislators are good at doing that, but we have to make sure we don’t censor people,” Bowman said.
The Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act goes into effect July 1, just ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 school year.