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The 2025 legislative session is approaching, allowing state policymakers to tackle critical educational challenges and explore practical solutions. Every child in Tennessee deserves a high-quality public education, and our role as a member of the community is crucial. Local control allows communities to make the best decisions for their schools, a principle supported by many Tennesseans and conservatives. Your engagement and input are not just necessary but valued.

Each state has unique needs, and the federal government’s role in education is increasingly under scrutiny. The United States Constitution explicitly omits education from its framework. The 10th Amendment reserves powers not assigned to the federal government to the states, suggesting that federal oversight in education is limited. Nevertheless, the 14th Amendment requires states to guarantee equal protection under the law for all individuals, establishing that equal opportunity is a priority.

Key priorities this year for the 114th General Assembly should include enhancing teacher preparation and retention while addressing shortages. Enrollment in public and private four-year colleges has dropped over 6% nationally, making it harder for Colleges of Education to meet the demand for new teachers as many leave the profession. While technology has increased accessibility in education, social media poses new security challenges for schools. Additional concerns involve improving math instruction, reducing chronic absenteeism, coping with decreased federal funding, addressing facility needs across Tennessee, and Governor Bill Lee’s proposal for universal vouchers.

The Comptroller reports that Tennessee schools will require $10 billion for critical repairs and upgrades [ https://comptroller.tn.gov/content/dam/cot/orea/advanced-search/2022/Capitalspendingreport.pdf ] over the next five years. While 57 percent of school buildings are in good or excellent condition, 43 percent need urgent attention. Building age and air quality significantly affect students’ health and well-being. High-quality facilities are essential for garnering community support for education.

 The costs include $5.4 billion for renovations and technology, $3.6 billion for new schools and additions, and $2.94 billion for constructing 70 new schools at $42 million each. Immediate action is necessary to provide our students with the environments they deserve. The state has failed to address this need long enough.  

Key questions include: What policy approaches can impact teacher supply, demand, and retention? How can Tennessee better support its teachers and students? Teacher attrition, a major contributor to teacher shortages, disrupts student learning and increases costs for schools and districts. How can we expand school safety measures to meet new challenges in school safety? What practical strategies can we implement to address teacher attrition? How do we address critical infrastructure needs?

The significant decline in school attendance since COVID-19 is alarming. Chronically absent students are more likely to fall behind academically, become socially disengaged, and eventually drop out. As state policymakers look for solutions to this issue, we must consider how to address problems effectively. How important is the graduation rate? Do we redefine college and career readiness in light of declining birth rates and student debt?  

On June 16, 2011, Governor Bill Haslam signed a state budget of $30.8 billion, which grew to $56.2 billion by the fiscal year 2024. While our economy remains strong, it is showing clear signs of slowing. We should prioritize initiatives that advance our state rather than simply copying policies from other states. The administration’s budget is primarily a wish list; the absolute authority to determine expenditures lies with the Tennessee General Assembly.

Several significant challenges face our educators. These include low salaries, insufficient school funding, increasing class sizes, a lack of support and resources, high levels of student stress, growing administrative burdens, a culture of standardized testing, teacher burnout, and a shortage of qualified teachers. All of these factors contribute to concerns about the quality of public education and the overall well-being of teachers.

 The governor could bridge this gap by engaging stakeholders directly in meaningful conversations. While we sometimes critique state legislation and policies, we aim to provide constructive and helpful feedback. All policymakers must prioritize listening to educators directly involved in the field in their state.  

History has proven that many public officials profit at the public’s expense, and out-of-state lobbyists often present solutions designed to enrich themselves. This erosion of trust in our institutions fuels public corruption, wasting our tax dollars.  

Think tanks and policy groups can provide valuable insights into educational issues, but they must not override the authority of those closest to the students. Decisions made far from the classroom carry much less weight. We, as Tennesseans, must take charge of our education policies and ensure they reflect our needs and priorities.

When Professional Educators of Tennessee [ http://www.proedtn.org/ ] asks elected leaders challenging questions about education policy, the information shared through these conversations could change our opinions or validate our viewpoints. No one individual or group is correct about every issue all the time. There is a wide diversion of opinion between the executive branch and education stakeholders. If education is important, educators must feel valued. 

The government functions best when citizens are actively engaged. Your opinion is essential. Share your thoughts on what matters to you and your family.

JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville.