EdTrust-Tennessee released the following statement, in response to Governor Bill Lee delivering his final State of the State address where he outlined his legislative priorities and proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The Governor celebrated several prior education investments from his tenure, including:
- A major expansion in K-12 public school funding with the passage of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA), Tennessee’s school funding formula.
- Achievement gains by Tennessee students, who are now among the top five for growth in the nation in English and Math proficiency.
- A record $1B investment in the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, Tennessee’s public technical colleges, designed to expand access to high-demand programs and eliminate waitlists.
While these accomplishments represent important progress, the proposed legislative priorities and budget raise concerns about the state’s commitment to the future of public education.
The Governor’s budget priorities make clear that voucher expansion will come at the expense of public schools, which serve the vast majority of Tennessee’s students. The Governor’s budget includes a $170 million recurring increase for public schools through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA), but simultaneously allocates $155 million in recurring funds for voucher expansion. As a result, the state will invest only $182 additional dollars per public school student while spending $7,750 per student in taxpayer dollars for each new voucher recipient.
This pattern of disinvestment is also reflected by a substantial decrease in funding for Tennessee’s higher education outcomes-based funding formula, making it more difficult for students to access and complete college degrees that lead to economic opportunity.
Across the United States, there is an escalation of law enforcement presence that threatens students’ access to the safe, welcoming school environments that are necessary for learning. Governor Lee’s remarks about increasing the ongoing law enforcement presence in Memphis reflects this troubling trend and stands at odds with what research emphasizes students need to thrive.
The governor closed his final address by asking, “What will Tennesseans say of us 250 years from now?”
“Tennessee families won’t remember education promises – they’ll remember budget and policy choices that determined whether their kids could afford college and whether their neighborhood schools had enough teachers,” said Alexza Barajas Clark, Executive Director at EdTrust-Tennessee. Expanding vouchers while shortchanging public schools and higher education puts Tennessee’s students and the state’s long-term prosperity at risk.”
Tennessee’s budget is one of the most significant pieces of public policy the governor and the Tennessee General Assembly tackle each year. As the General Assembly debates and finalizes the budget, EdTrust-Tennessee and the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education remain committed to advocating for investments that drive equity and opportunity for students in Tennessee.
To understand what’s in the budget, why it matters, and how it works join EdTrust-Tennessee on Monday, March 2 at 3pm CT/4pm ET for Understanding Tennessee’s Education Budget with the Sycamore Institute. We’ll take a deeper look at how education is funded in Tennessee and explore opportunities for advocacy.
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