Committee reviews TISA‑focused legislative agenda including inflation adjustment, special‑education weighting and school‑infrastructure funding
Summary
Committee reviewed the district’s 2026 legislative priorities—pushing for an annual inflation adjustment to TISA, correcting economically disadvantaged counts, increasing weights for highest-need special-education students, funding for infrastructure and mandated services, and other items that mirror TSBA priorities.
The committee reviewed a draft Hamilton County legislative agenda focused on TISA funding and related state education priorities for the upcoming session.
Administration proposed several TISA‑centered priorities: an annual inflationary adjustment, correction to how economically disadvantaged students are counted (arguing direct certification reduced counts), sustainable school infrastructure funding, and additional funding to cover state‑mandated services such as special‑education pre‑K, tutoring for fourth and fifth grades, summer learning programs, and career‑technical education. Staff also recommended increasing weightings for the highest‑need special‑education students (ULN9/ULN10), noting current funding for some high‑need placements falls well short of the per‑student cost.
Board members discussed related topics: proposals to create a capital projects trust fund, a maintenance‑of‑effort requirement for local funding bodies, expansion of school nurses and behavioral‑health staff, flexibility in SRO/SSO funding, and measures to improve licensure reciprocity and teacher‑pipeline supports. Administration noted the district’s agenda intentionally aligns with the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) priorities but keeps language broader for conversation with legislators.
The committee agreed the draft will come back for a vote and that members should forward additional suggested items to staff. Administration also outlined a recommended six‑month, one‑on‑one advocacy contract option (see separate item) to support legislative efforts in Nashville.
