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Administration proposes a 2.8% TISA increase, additional K-12 spending and raises lottery/TCAT questions
Summary
Commissioner Bryson told the committee TISA funding will increase by 2.8% (about $164 million) and that total K-12 FY26 state funding (including special session items and this budget) totals $579.3 million; members pressed for detail on private school funding, teacher compensation, and lottery/TCAT proposals.
Commissioner Bryson told the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee the FY26 budget increases K-12 funding under the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula and includes additional one-time and special-session education allocations.
Bryson said, "we stand at nearly $7,000,000,000, that are, allocated through the TISA formula to our k through 12, public schools," and that this represented a 2.8% increase and a $164,000,000 rise in the formula. He added the amount distributed to schools will increase by $244,000,000 because last year's budget had overestimated the student count and that overfunding is now available to send to schools.
Nut graf: The administration also pointed to special-session education spending and said combined FY26 funding for K-12 (special session plus the FY26 budget) is $579,300,000. Members used the hearing to press for specifics on components of that total, including private school allocations and teacher compensation embedded in the TISA increase.
During Q&A, Senator Hensley asked about private-school funding of $144,000,000; Bryson replied, "No, that's in this year's budget. I just didn't show it on this slide because this was K through 12 public school slide." Senators pressed for breakdowns of how much of the TISA increase is base formula versus compensation pay raises; Bryson said the budget includes teacher pay increases and a continuing move toward $50,000 starting teacher pay by the end of the administration, and that staff would provide further detail in education committee hearings.
Ending: Committee members were directed to pursue detailed line-item discussion in the standing education committee and to request compensation and formula breakdowns from budget staff.
