Education policies can be like a game of Jenga: one wrong move can cause the whole system to fall apart. The challenge is not just in the details of the policies but also in how policymakers overlook issues affecting our education system. Elected officials need to focus on what their communities truly need. At the same time, education stakeholders should share their ideas for improvement. If they don’t speak up, their voices might get lost among others.
Media coverage shapes public views of K-12 education and influences opinions about teachers and student advocacy. Teachers, parents, administrators, stakeholders, and policymakers must engage in the education conversation to create real change.
Legislative Developments: What Passed
Several significant pieces of legislation emerged from the 114th Tennessee General Assembly in a session marked by action and inaction. Governor Bill Lee's new $447 million voucher program has been approved. It will start in the 2025-26 school year and is designed for families who have already chosen private education. The program will offer state-funded scholarships to families of all income levels, including a one-time $2,000 bonus for teachers.
The Lee administration did not apply for $75 million in federal funding for a summer food service program. Instead, legislators provided about $3 million to help support this initiative, which serves around 650,000 low-income children.
The bill to close the state-run Achievement School District will introduce a new approach for low-performing schools in the 2026-27 school year. The governor supports this change, as the failed Achievement School District should have been shut down years ago.
Regarding student welfare, a unanimous behavioral bill mandates local education agencies to transfer student records, including disciplinary history, within specified timeframes. Additionally, in response to a tragic school shooting, lawmakers reversed confidentiality laws to make juvenile records public in cases of school shootings involving minors.
Other passed legislation includes reducing youth vaping by creating strict rules and adding a sales tax on vapor products, allowing school staff to provide basic medical care without needing parental consent, and approving instructional recordings and screenings for students who may be victims of human trafficking, which shows a dedication to student safety.
Additionally, recess has been extended for elementary students, social media access has been blocked on public school networks, and internet safety lessons for grades 6-12 will begin in the 2026-27 school year. Also, a new law bans cellphones during class time, with some limited exceptions.
Legislative Developments: What Did Not Pass
Despite some progress, several proposed bills failed to gain traction. A controversial measure requiring schools to verify students' citizenship or legal status—potentially jeopardizing federal funding—was ultimately rejected. This proposal was designed to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court’s Plyler v. Doe ruling, which guarantees K-12 public education to all children, regardless of immigration status.
A bill to lower the minimum age for school bus drivers from 25 to 23 was rejected due to safety concerns from a 2016 accident. Efforts to place Memphis Shelby-County Schools under state control were stalled.
Other failed proposals included a ban on schools displaying flags other than the U.S. and Tennessee flags, and a plan to eliminate Common Core materials. A proposal to extend the Tennessee HOPE scholarship to out-of-state students and legislation to build sidewalks around public schools also did not pass. Multiple bills for universal free school meals were not approved during this session.
New Debates for Next Year
As the dust settles from this legislative session, it is clear that policymakers need to refocus their attention. The belief that ineffective policies are the primary reason for our educational challenges often distracts us from the core issues that educators and schools face.
Tennessee will elect a new governor in 2026, and we can expect some fiercely contested legislative races and shifts in the political landscape. These debates may occur next year, either in the legislature or on the campaign trail. The education community must collaborate to navigate the complexities of future educational efforts. Only through this united approach can we hope to create a strong educational system that benefits ALL students in Tennessee.
JC Bowman
Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee