The Undercount Report:

Tennessee is currently undercounting and underfunding students from low-income backgrounds. This problem will only get worse as massive federal cuts to public benefits programs take effect. Stricter eligibility requirements for SNAP and Medicaid, including changes to TennCare eligibility, are expected to result in millions of Americans losing access to public assistance—further reducing the number of students identified through direct certification.

Relying solely on public assistance data to identify needy students and districts masks the reality many students are experiencing across the state regarding financial instability and limits our ability to channel resources where they’re needed the most.

Tennessee must act now to revise how it identifies and supports students from low-income backgrounds, before upcoming federal policy changes make the problem even worse. When the full spectrum of student need is understood and resources are provided, we unlock opportunities for students and communities to thrive.

To better serve students across the state, policymakers should revise the economically disadvantaged student definition, using these three foundational principles as a guide:

1. Broaden Direct Certification to Ensure Comprehensive and Adequate Identification: Expand the range of programs used in direct certification to more accurately reflect the number of Tennessee students who are experiencing financial insecurity.
2. Stabilize Annual School Funding Through Consistent Student Identification: Ensure stable, year-to-year funding for school districts by reducing large swings in student counts caused by fluctuating participation in public assistance programs.
3. Adopt More Inclusive Measures of Economic Hardship: Incorporate measures beyond public benefits programs to ensure all students experiencing economic hardship are reflected.