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:
- Formal Rulemaking
- Changes to Data and Reporting Systems
- Capacity-Building for Local Educational Agencies
- Accountability and Oversight
- Continuous Improvement Efforts
To learn more about TISA’s origin story, read Bellwether’s 2023 brief, From Antiquated to Equitable: How Tennessee Overhauled Its State School Funding Formula
