TN Dept of Education Wants to Hear From You

All Tennesseans are encouraged to submit public comment on the proposed rules to implement the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act.

The TISA public school funding formula updates the way Tennessee funds public education for the first time in over 30 years to empower each student to read proficiently by third grade, prepare each high school graduate for postsecondary success, and provide resources needed to all students to ensure they succeed. 

The TISA updates the way Tennessee invests in public education by moving to a student-based funding formula, which includes: 

• A base funding amount for every public-school student.

• Additional weighted funding to address individual student needs like those students who may be low-income, have a disability, be gifted, have characteristics of dyslexia, or live in a sparse community.
• Additional direct funding intended to support students in key priority areas like early literacy, CTE programming, and high-dosage tutoring.
• Outcome incentives based on student achievement to empower schools to help all students reach their full potential.

The TISA Act specifically requires rulemaking in certain areas to further flesh out the law, define terms, and establish processes and procedures for funding disbursements. In alignment with the funding review engagement process, which generated over 1,000 comments, the department will collect public feedback and input that will strengthen the proposed rules that will accompany the statute and ensure its alignment as the state transitions to a student-centered K-12 public education funding formula.

TISA Public Comments

The department will post public comments received on the TISA proposed rules each Monday for the previous week. View the public comments received here:

• 23 public comments received from Monday, June 6 – Sunday, June 12th available here

Comments should be e-mailed to Tisa.Rules@tn.gov or mailed to the following address:

Tennessee Department of Education, Andrew Johnson Tower, 9th Floor
710 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243
ATTN: TISA Rules

Public comment on the proposed rules will be accepted until Tuesday, August 2, 2022.