Rutherford County Schools Approve Ten Commandments Display Designs

The Rutherford County Board of Education voted 6 to 1 to allow schools to display plaques pairing the Ten Commandments with portions of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, with the plaques paid for by funds raised outside the school system.

The Rutherford County Board of Education voted on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 to allow schools to display plaques that pair the Ten Commandments with portions of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and approved two plaque designs, according to the board's agenda and the meeting minutes included in its October 15 agenda packet. The displays are authorized under a new Tennessee law that took effect July 1, 2026.

The board's agenda states that "funds have been raised to pay for display plaques so that the cost of the display plaques would not be paid by the school system." At the board's September 10 meeting, board member Caleb Tidwell said all funds had been raised by an outside group to have the plaques made and installed, according to the minutes of that meeting.

What the Board Approved

The motion, made by Butch Vaughn and seconded by Caleb Tidwell, approved allowing schools to display the first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, the preamble of the Constitution and the Ten Commandments under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-2010, "to educate students on the documents' historical significance and how the documents shaped the common cultural heritage of the school system, Tennessee, and the United States of America." It also approved one design for middle and high schools and a separate design for elementary schools.

The vote was 6 to 1, with board member Jeanice McCord voting no, according to the minutes. Board member Katie Darby asked to postpone the vote and to make the designs give all three documents equal space. During the work session, McCord requested an executive session to discuss the legal ramifications of making the plaques and hanging them in each school, and the board agreed to meet following the meeting.

The minutes for the September 23 meeting are listed on the consent agenda for the board's October 15, 2026 meeting, where they are up for approval.

How the Plan Took Shape

The September vote followed two earlier board actions:

• August 20, 2026: The board unanimously approved a design for "10 Commandments Plaques" with an amendment, offered by Frances Rosales and seconded by Tidwell, to approve the plaques only if funding is raised to put a plaque in all Rutherford County Schools. Tidwell said the plaques were approximately $211 each and that $7,000 had been raised so far, according to the approved minutes. Board members also discussed whether all schools should have the same signage, and Vaughn suggested a different design for elementary schools.
• September 10, 2026: Tidwell told the board the funds had been raised to put the plaques in all schools and asked that formal language be used on the elementary plaques. A motion by Darby, seconded by Tidwell, to approve the elementary design passed 6 to 1 with McCord opposed, and members agreed to make it part of the next board meeting, according to the approved minutes.

The agenda and minutes do not set an installation date or the exact location of the plaques inside each school.

What Tennessee Law Says

The displays are authorized by House Bill 47 / Senate Bill 303, sponsored by Rep. Michael Hale and Sen. Mark Pody. According to the General Assembly's bill history, the Senate passed the bill with an amendment on March 19, 2026, both chambers adopted a conference committee report on April 23, and Gov. Bill Lee signed it on May 7. It became Public Chapter 924, effective July 1, 2026, and is codified at Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-6-2010.

A Senate amendment would have required schools to post the displays, but the conference committee deleted all amendments and substituted the final language. Under the law as enacted:

• Local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies may allow schools to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in a prominent location in a school building
• If a board elects to display the Ten Commandments, the law specifies the text that must be used
• Text must be in a font no smaller than 26-point, in a style that is easy for students to see and read
• A "prominent location" means a school entryway, cafeteria or common area where students are likely to see the display
• Each board determines the size and placement of the display
• Fraternal and other organizations or individuals are encouraged to donate the funds or materials for the displays

Stated Concerns and Legal Context

On August 20, 2026, the ACLU of Tennessee sent a public records request to Rutherford County Schools seeking communications, meeting notes and recordings, and proposed or approved designs related to the board's "consideration and approval of Ten Commandments displays." In an August 21 release, the ACLU of Tennessee, the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation said they had sent requests to five districts: Blount County, Rutherford County, Washington County, White County and Wilson County. Their joint statement said: "Forcing biblical scripture on public-school children violates families' religious freedom."

Laws in other states that go further than Tennessee's, by requiring displays in every classroom, have been in federal court:

• Louisiana: A federal district court blocked Louisiana's law (House Bill 71) with a preliminary injunction in November 2024, and a three-judge Fifth Circuit panel affirmed. On February 20, 2026, the full Fifth Circuit voted 12 to 6 to vacate the injunction, ruling the challenge was premature because the displays had not yet been posted. The court said its "narrow holding" does not prevent future challenges once the law is implemented.
• Texas: On April 21, 2026, the full Fifth Circuit ruled 9 to 8 in *Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District* that Texas Senate Bill 10, which requires the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, does not violate the First Amendment. The majority held that the 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision in *Stone v. Graham*, which struck down a Kentucky law, no longer controls because it relied on the now-abandoned *Lemon* test. According to the ACLU of Texas, the plaintiffs asked the U.S. Supreme Court on August 17, 2026 to take up the case.

Tennessee is not in the Fifth Circuit; federal cases from Tennessee are heard by the Sixth Circuit. A Supreme Court decision on the Texas petition could shape how courts nationwide view laws like Tennessee's.

For an overview of public and private school options, see our guide to Murfreesboro schools. Voters with an interest in state and local policy can find deadlines and polling locations in our Rutherford County early voting guide, and more county news on our Rutherford County page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Rutherford County Schools display the Ten Commandments?

The Rutherford County Board of Education voted 6 to 1 on September 23, 2026 to allow schools to display plaques pairing the Ten Commandments with portions of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, and approved one design for elementary schools and another for middle and high schools. In August, the board conditioned the plaques on funding being raised to place one in every district school.

Who is paying for the Ten Commandments displays in Rutherford County schools?

The board's September 23 agenda states that funds have been raised so the cost of the plaques would not be paid by the school system. At the September 10 meeting, board member Caleb Tidwell said the money was raised by an outside group to have the plaques made and installed.

Does Tennessee law require schools to post the Ten Commandments?

No. The law enacted as Public Chapter 924 says local boards of education may allow schools to post the displays. When a board does, the law specifies the Ten Commandments text, a minimum 26-point font, and a prominent location such as an entryway, cafeteria or common area.

What other documents are included in the displays?

The displays include the first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, along with the Ten Commandments.

Have courts ruled on Ten Commandments laws in schools?

Yes, in other states. In 2026 the full Fifth Circuit vacated an injunction against Louisiana's law as premature and upheld Texas's law in a 9 to 8 ruling. Plaintiffs in the Texas case have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review it.

Sources: Rutherford County Schools: 2026 board agendas and minutes, including the September 23, 2026 agenda, October 15, 2026 agenda (September 23 minutes) and approved August 20, 2026 minutes; Tennessee General Assembly: HB 47 / SB 303 and conference committee report; ACLU of Tennessee and records request letters; Fifth Circuit en banc decision, Roake v. Brumley; ACLU; Fifth Circuit en banc opinion, Nathan v. Alamo Heights ISD; ACLU of Texas.