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A blueprint for overhauling Tennessee public education funding appears to align with Gov. Bill Lee’s pledge to consider each student’s needs and circumstances, but the big question is how much more money would be added to bolster learning for nearly a million students?
Lee wants a student-centered funding approach that would set a base amount of funding per pupil, then distribute additional money per pupil to support students in certain groups, especially those from economically disadvantaged families. Thirty-nine states use that model, or a hybrid that also includes separate funding for certain resources.
Tennessee’s would become a hybrid too, because the blueprint also calls for extra funding for programs like tutoring and career and technical education.
The four-page framework, released this week by Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn, also recommends additional money to support the state’s neediest students, including those learning the English language, living in rural areas or with disabilities.