After the Policy Win: First-Year Implementation of Tennessee's New School Funding Formula

Bellwether. 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20001. Tel: 877-636-0909; Web site: https://bellwether.org/

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Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Walton Family Foundation

Educational Policy; State Policy; Program Implementation; Educational Finance; Funding Formulas; State Aid; State Legislation; Academic Achievement; Fiscal Capacity; Educational Equity (Finance); Educational Change; Capacity Building; Accountability

In 2022, Tennessee overhauled its education funding formula to improve outcomes for the 1 million students in the state. The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act (TISA) was designed to simplify the existing funding formula and more equitably allocate resources to schools. Bellwether's case study, "After the Policy Win: First-Year Implementation of Tennessee's New School Funding Formula," documents the first year of TISA's implementation. This analysis highlights Tennessee's progress thus far and the opportunities for further action and communication. The lessons gleaned from the first year of TISA implementation provide a roadmap for leaders in other states contemplating education funding reform. The case study identifies five implementation phases that should guide states as they move from policy to practice: (1) Formal Rulemaking; (2) Changes to Data and Reporting Systems; (3) Capacity-Building for Local Educational Agencies; (4) Accountability and Oversight; and (5) Continuous Improvement Efforts.

As Provided

2025

ED664806