TEA calls on state leaders to increase investments in public schools

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) is urging state leaders to guarantee funding for public schools as nearly 1 million students return to classrooms facing teacher shortages and potential federal cuts this school year.TEA President Tanya Coats said in a news release that uncertainty around federal funding has already affected several districts across the state. McNairy County, for instance, temporarily announced it would eliminate after-care programming before restoring the funding, according to TEA leaders.Washington County Schools and Johnson City Schools officials have also expressed concern about potential federal funding reductions, following President Donald Trump's executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and the passage of Trump's budget bill."Steep cuts to federal programs like TennCare and SNAP contained in [the federal budget] would jeopardize Title I funds, which are vital for serving economically disadvantaged students," Coats, a 28-year Knox County educator, said in a public statement. "We need a firm commitment that any cuts to federal education funding will be backfilled by the state."Coats said Tennessee schools are going into this school year with thousands of teaching vacancies, which will force districts to rely on long-term substitutes and emergency permits.Nearly half of new teachers leave within five years due to burnout, low pay and lack of support, according to TEA leaders."The problem goes deeper than vacancies: it is a crisis in the educator pipeline," Coats said. "Veteran educators are also leaving, citing heavy workloads and insufficient respect for their work."To address such concerns, the union outlined solutions focusing on recruitment, respect, retention and reinvestment in staff. The union called for more competitive salaries, manageable workloads and adequate school funding across the state, among other measures."When a classroom doesn't have enough desks, when teachers spend $429 per year on average on supplies like pencils and paper out of their own pocket, when schools can't afford interventionists and counselors – those are reinvestment decisions," Coats said.Coats reiterated the union's support for HB675/SB415, known as the "Freedom to Teach" bill, which aims to substantially reduce student testing in Tennessee to add more time for teachers to focus on instruction rather than test preparation."The Tennessee General Assembly has the power to enact policy changes that will help make teaching a desirable career again and will make existing teachers feel appreciated," Coats said."We are glad a committee is meeting right now to discuss teacher compensation, how to recognize good teaching and the proper use of testing," she continued. "TEA supported the Freedom to Teach initiative during the last legislative session and looks forward to the committee producing its report and any recommendations it contains."