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Lee asks legislature for $340 million more for K-12, cites scholarship backlog and teacher pay goal
Summary
Gov. Bill Lee told the joint convention he proposes $340 million in additional public-school funding, said Tennessee has invested more than $2.5 billion historically and called to double Education Freedom Scholarship slots amid a 54,000-application backlog for 20,000 spots.
Gov. Bill Lee asked the Tennessee General Assembly to approve an additional $340,000,000 for public schools in the coming budget and reviewed past education investments and outcomes.
"First, we made an historic investment of more than $2,500,000,000 in our public schools," Lee said. He described that as a roughly 50% increase in funding and tied it to improved student outcomes, noting Tennessee is a top-five state for gains in reading and math since 2022.
Lee also set a target for starting teacher pay, saying that in 2019 the starting salary was $35,000 and that "in 2027, starting pay will be $50,000." He highlighted the Education Freedom Scholarship program, saying the state received 54,000 applications this year for 20,000 slots and that about 34,000 students remain on a waiting list; he urged at least doubling scholarships to expand access.
The governor introduced Doctor Milton Nettles of Lighthouse Christian School and invited scholarship recipients as an example of the program's effects. The joint convention did not vote on the education proposals during the address; the requests will proceed through committee and appropriations work during the legislative session.
Details provided by the governor will require bill text and budget language to confirm precise appropriation mechanisms and eligibility rules for the scholarship expansion.
