2025 Tennessee Legislative Session Recap
2025-05-16 13:00 - 14:15 (America/Chicago)
Join EdTrust-Tennessee for a virtual Legislative Recap on Friday, May 16, from 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM CT, for a virtual conversation unpacking impactful developments in education policy from the 2025 legislative session.
During this session, we’ll walk through key education bills that shaped the 2025 legislative session and what they mean for students, families, and educators across Tennessee. We’ll also hear directly from education and legislative leaders who played key roles in shaping this year’s education agenda, sharing their reflections and looking ahead to what’s next.
Feel free to share this invite widely as colleagues, partners, and fellow advocates are all welcome to join us.
Have a question you’d like us to consider during the panel? You’ll have an opportunity to submit questions when you register for the webinar.
Register Now

2025 Tennessee Legislative Recap: What Students Need to Know
2025-05-22 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom Event
Join EdTrust-Tennessee for the 2025 Student Legislative Recap Webinar with our EmpowerED Student Advocacy Network on May 22 at 5:00 – 6:00 CT / 6:00 – 7:00 ET.
During this student-focused event, we’ll unpack what happened during Tennessee’s 114th Tennessee Legislative Session — and why it matters for students.
Hosted by and for students from across the state, this event will feature:

Deep dives off key bills and policies that passed in the 2025 session
A student panel sharing perspectives on how these laws affect youth and how youth engaged during session
Opportunities to get informed, inspired, and involved

Register now for an opportunity to hear directly from fellow students who are leading change.
Register Now

Know Your Rights: What You Need to Know About Tennessee's Censorship and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Bills
2025-06-10 16:00 - 17:15 (America/Chicago) | https://edtrust.zoom.us/j/81498989786
Recording
PowerPoint
Q&A summary
Resource document

Join the Tennessee Coalition for Truth in Our Classrooms for a briefing and discussion on the new censorship laws that passed in the 114th Tennessee General Assembly in 2025.
Bryan Davidson, and Roshan Neil of the ACLU of Tennessee, will guide attendees in understanding the content and legal implications of the censorship bills that threaten diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in K-12 and Higher Education. This webinar will also give updates on the implementation of past censorship laws and current litigation efforts.
We will be joined by Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville), Augustus Mays, EdTrust-National’s Vice President of Partnerships & Engagement, and Saawan Duvvuri, a student leader from our EmpowerED Youth Advocacy Network.
Attendees will also learn about current advocacy efforts led by Coalition partners and will leave with actionable resources and ways to advocate on these important issues to make their voices heard.
This event is co hosted by partners of the TN Coalition for Truth in Our Classrooms including:
ACLU of Tennessee, American Muslim Advisory Council, API Tennessee, Advocates for Women’s & Kids’ Equality (AWAKE), Diverse Learners Collaborative, EmpowerED Youth Advocacy Network, FUTURO, Literacy Midsouth, League of Women Voters – TN, My Brother’s Keeper – Nashville, National Center for Youth Law, Nashville Teacher Residency, Penguin Random House, One WillCo, Tennessee Education Association, TN Association of School Librarians, TN Library Association, TN NAACP State Conference, TN Library Ecosystem Coalition, TN Educators of Color Alliance, Stand for Children TN, Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment(SOCM), Volunteer State Seal of Biliteracy, and WilCo Iris.
Register Now

2025 Southern Legislative Recap: What To Know About School Funding
2025-06-17 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Join EdTrust-Tennessee and Southerners for Fair School Funding partners for a 2025 School Funding Legislative Recap. Across the South, advocates have been fighting for fairer K-12 school funding — and this year brought both major victories and serious challenges. In this one-hour recap, we’ll break down key legislative updates from 10 Southern states, how advocates mobilized to drive change, and what these shifts mean for the year ahead.
You’ll hear directly from A+ Education Partnership on Alabama’s big reform and Fund Our Schools Virginia on their school funding wins this session. Whether you’re deep in this work or just looking to get up to speed, this webinar will help you stay informed and get connected.
Register Now

Federal Focus, Tennessee Lens: How Block Grants and Pell Could Reshape Tennessee
2025-09-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
In this webinar, we examine the feasibility of block grants and the implications of the new workforce Pell program for Tennessee’s state financial aid. By the end, you’ll leave with clear insights to help you understand what is coming and how it could shape opportunities for Tennessee’s students.

Slide Deck
Webinar Recording
Resources

REGISTER NOW

Federal Focus, Tennessee Lens: How Federal Vouchers and the Earnings Premium Framework Threaten Educational Opportunity
2025-10-10 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us on October 10, 2025 at 12pm CT/1pm ET to explore how recent federal policy changes under the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill” could impact educational opportunity for Tennessee’s students.
During this session we will cover the Earnings Premium (EP) Framework, which evaluates whether college programs help graduates earn more than peers who didn’t complete a similar program. Programs that fail this test risk losing access to federal student financial aid, putting students’ access to higher education at risk. While the goal is to support student success and economic opportunity, we want to better understand how this could affect students and career fields with low wages but provide significant social value, such as teaching, social work, and community service roles that are essential for young people and communities across Tennessee.
We’ll also discuss the Federal Voucher Program that could divert $56 billion a year to a system that allows individuals to donate annually to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit. While this may seem like “free money,” every dollar in tax credits could be a dollar removed from public education, healthcare, and programs that serve most students, widening inequities while diverting public dollars to private schools.
Advocates will leave with examples of how Tennessee organizations are engaging and affected, stronger connections to national experts and resources, and a clearer understanding of the potential effects of these changes in Tennessee, including possible actions and timelines for engagement.
View Slide DeckWatch Webinar Recording

Chattanooga Regional Roundtable
2025-11-18 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | Construction Career Center, 2225 Roanoke Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37406, United States
Join EdTrust-Tennessee on Tuesday, November 18 from 5pm – 7pm for our Chattanooga Regional Roundtable – co-sponsored by local and state organizations in the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education. As sweeping federal changes reshape the education landscape, these gatherings offer a timely opportunity to bridge policy and community. Each event will bring together local advocates, policy makers, school community members, and education leaders to explore what these shifts mean on the ground, spotlight local solutions, and strengthen our collective voice ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Join us in Chattanooga to reflect, strategize, and build toward a more just future for Tennessee students. If you’re interested in attending a Regional Roundtable in Nashville, Memphis, Johnson City, or Knoxville visit edtrusttn.org/regional-roundtable for more information.
Register today to get additional details and the event location. We hope to see you there!
Register Now

Nashville Regional Roundtable
2025-11-20 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Scarritt Bennett Center, 1027 18th Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212, United States
Join EdTrust-Tennessee on Thursday, November 20 for our Nashville Regional Roundtable – co-sponsored by local and state organizations in the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education. As sweeping federal changes reshape the education landscape, these gatherings offer a timely opportunity to bridge policy and community. Each event will bring together local advocates, policy makers, school community members, and education leaders to explore what these shifts mean on the ground, spotlight local solutions, and strengthen our collective voice ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Register now to join us in Nashville to reflect, strategize, and build toward a more just future for Tennessee students. If you’re interested in attending a Regional Roundtable in Chattanooga, Memphis, Johnson City, or Knoxville visit edtrusttn.org/regional-roundtable for more information.
Register Now

Memphis Regional Roundtable
2025-12-02 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | National Civil Rights Musuem, 450 Mulberry St, Memphis, 38103, United States
Join EdTrust-Tennessee on Tuesday, December 2 from 5pm – 7pm CT at the National Civil Rights Museum for our Memphis Regional Roundtable – co-sponsored by local and state organizations in the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education. As sweeping federal changes reshape the education landscape, these gatherings offer a timely opportunity to bridge policy and community. Each event will bring together local advocates, policy makers, school community members, and education leaders to explore what these shifts mean on the ground, spotlight local solutions, and strengthen our collective voice ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Register now to join us in Memphis to reflect, strategize, and build toward a more just future for Tennessee students. If you’re interested in attending a Regional Roundtable in Chattanooga, Nashville, Johnson City, or Knoxville visit edtrusttn.org/regional-roundtable for more information.
Register Now

Johnson City Regional Roundtable
2025-12-04 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | Langston Centre, 315 Elm Street, Johnson City, TN, 37601, United States
Join EdTrust-Tennessee on Thursday, December 4 at 2pm -4pm ET for our Johnson City Regional Roundtable – co-sponsored by local and state organizations in the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education. As sweeping federal changes reshape the education landscape, these gatherings offer a timely opportunity to bridge policy and community. Each event will bring together local advocates, policy makers, school community members, and education leaders to explore what these shifts mean on the ground, spotlight local solutions, and strengthen our collective voice ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Register now to join us in Johnson City to reflect, strategize, and build toward a more just future for Tennessee students. If you’re interested in attending a Regional Roundtable in Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville, or Knoxville visit edtrusttn.org/regional-roundtable for more information.
Register Now

Knoxville Regional Roundtable
2025-12-05 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville) | Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Ave, Knoxville, TN, 37915, United States
Join EdTrust-Tennessee on Friday, December 5 from 3:00 to 5:00pm ET for our Knoxville Regional Roundtable – co-sponsored by local and state organizations in the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education. As sweeping federal changes reshape the education landscape, these gatherings offer a timely opportunity to bridge policy and community. Each event will bring together local advocates, policy makers, school community members, and education leaders to explore what these shifts mean on the ground, spotlight local solutions, and strengthen our collective voice ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Register now to join us in Knoxville to reflect, strategize, and build toward a more just future for Tennessee students. If you’re interested in attending a Regional Roundtable in Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville, or Johnson City visit edtrusttn.org/regional-roundtable for more information.
Register Now

The Power of Us: 2026 Policy Agenda & Legislative Preview
2026-01-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Resource GuideThe 2026 legislative session is right around the corner. For advocates and community members, that can bring urgency, hope, and a little worry. With real challenges ahead for Tennessee’s students, it can be hard to know what to expect, where to focus, and how to show up ready to make a difference.
That’s why EdTrust-Tennessee is convening advocates and community members across the state for The Power of Us: 2026 Policy Agenda & Legislative Preview on January 12 at 12pm CT/1pm ET. We’ll share practical advocacy resources and tools, walk through the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education’s updated policy agenda, and hear directly from partners and legislators about how to advocate effectively in the months ahead.
In a moment marked by uncertainty and real challenges, our shared voice and coordinated action matter more than ever. By showing up together, we expand what is possible for Tennessee students.

The Undercount: Tennessee’s Narrow Poverty Definition Shortchanges Schools and Students
2026-02-09 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
The Undercount, EdTrust-Tennessee’s new report, reveals a critical problem: the state’s current economically disadvantaged definition leaves roughly 50% of eligible students unseen and under-resourced.
As the cost of housing, food, and childcare continues to rise, too many families are struggling to make ends meet. We must act now to refine how we identify economically disadvantaged students to help ensure that the students in Tennessee’s communities have what they need to succeed.
Join us on January 26 at 3pm CT/4pm ET to learn how Tennessee’s narrow poverty definition is shortchanging schools and students and how you can get to involved to support meaningful legislative policy change.
Tennessee has already experienced unexpected drops in economically disadvantaged student counts as a result of SNAP changes in the first years of TISA implementation. Additional federal changes to SNAP will also soon take effect, with stricter eligibility requirements, further reducing the number of Tennessee students identified as economically disadvantaged.
This is a critical moment to understand what’s at stake and how to take action to ensure resources reach the students who need them most. Together, we can push for policies that reflect the full spectrum of student need and unlock opportunity across for all Tennessee students.
Download Slide Deck

Education for All | 2026 Legislative Updates
2026-02-23 13:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago)
Register NowLast year, the Education for All-Tennessee coalition halted the movement of HB793 (Lamberth)/SB836 (Watson), a cruel attempt to take away children’s freedom to learn based on who they are and how they came to call Tennessee home. This legislation was designed to challenge Plyler v. Doe, the landmark Supreme Court decision that has protected every child’s right to learn. If they succeed in opening challenges to Plyler, schools nationwide could be forced to deny free public education to all children regardless of their immigration status.
Now Tennessee legislators are working to advance HB793/SB836 again, and they’ve brought backup.
Legislators have resumed their coordinated attack on access to public education for Tennessee’s students by pairing HB793/SB836 with a new bill, HB1711/SB2108. With a proposed amendment, HB1711/SB2108 would force schools to check the immigration status of every student, not just immigrant students.
Ensuring every child has access to quality education strengthens our communities and builds a better society for all of us. That’s why we must keep showing up.
In this webinar, you’ll learn what these bills mean for students and families, hear from Ignacia Rodriguez Kmec, Policy Counsel at the National Immigration Law Center, on the legal implications and national context of this legislation, and find out how you can get involved with the Education for All-Tennessee coalition, including ways to take action with our fellow steering committee members the TN Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, SOCM, TN NAACP, and Tennessee Education Association.

Understanding Tennessee’s Education Budget with The Sycamore Institute
2026-03-02 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom Event
On February 2, 2026, Governor Lee delivered his final annual State of the State address and unveiled his priorities for the year and his recommendations for the 2026-2027 budget. Tennessee’s budget is one of the most significant pieces of public policy our governor and the Tennessee General Assembly tackle each year. Yet understanding what’s in it, why it matters, and how it works can be a challenge. Join EdTrust-Tennessee on Monday, March 2 at 3:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM ET to reflect on Governor Lee’s budget and the important education implications it has for our students and schools communities.
This session will be led by policy expert Mandy Spears, Executive Vice President of The Sycamore Institute, an independent nonpartisan Public Policy Research Center that works to help Tennesseans understand the complex issues impacting our state by providing accessible, reliable data and research. Each year, the Sycamore Institute conducts a thorough analysis of Tennessee’s budget, seeking to support stakeholders to understand where money comes from, where it goes, and what factors influence its flow through the state. Advocates will leave this session with resources and a better understanding of Tennessee’s budget content, how the budget process works, and how the budget will impact our education system this upcoming year.
Register

Advocacy Alert: Legislative Briefing
2026-03-06 12:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago)
This concise, information-packed 30-minute webinar will give advocates the key updates they need to effectively push for education access and opportunity at the Tennessee legislature.
We’ll discuss the two bills designed to challenge a constitutional and long-standing legal precedent that guarantees all children living in the United States access to free public school, regardless of documentation status.

SB836/HB793 would deny undocumented students access to public education.
HB1711/SB2108 would force schools to check the immigration status of every student, not just immigrant students. It includes a proposed amendment that contains a trigger provision aimed at overturning Plyler and passing HB793/SB836.

Register Now

Advocacy Alert: Legislative Briefing
2026-03-20 12:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago)
Right now, more than 100 education bills are moving through the Tennessee legislature, and keeping up with them — on top of work, school, and daily responsibilities — is a real challenge.
On Friday, March 20 at 12pm CT / 1pm ET, EdTrust–Tennessee will host a 30‑minute Legislative Briefing to help cut through the noise. This concise, information‑packed webinar will give advocates the key updates they need to effectively push for stronger education access and opportunity at the Tennessee legislature.
Register Now
