Investing in Tennessee's Teachers and Public Schools

I have always believed in Tennessee's public schools. The men and women who stand in front of classrooms across District 38 every single day are some of the most dedicated people I know. They show up for our children when it matters most, and they have deserved better compensation for a long time.

This session, we delivered.

The 114th General Assembly raised the minimum starting teacher salary in Tennessee to $50,000 per year. That is a meaningful increase that will help us recruit and retain quality teachers, especially in rural communities where it has historically been harder to compete with larger school districts. When a young person graduates from college with a teaching degree and has to choose between a rural school and a suburban one, we want them to be able to choose ours. A competitive starting salary helps make that possible.

The overall K-12 education budget was increased by $339 million in new recurring dollars, bringing Tennessee's total public education investment to more than $9.4 billion for the coming school year. That is a record level of investment in our public schools, and it reflects the commitment that Tennessee Republicans have made to making sure every child in this state has access to a quality education.

We also passed the Better Spending, Better Schools Act, which requires all school districts to submit detailed annual reports on how they are spending public education dollars. Accountability matters. Parents and taxpayers deserve to know that the money going into our schools is being used effectively and efficiently.

We required annual substance abuse and violence prevention programming in every public school in grades 3 through 12. Our kids face real pressures, and giving them the tools to recognize and resist drugs, alcohol, and violence is one of the best investments we can make.

We passed legislation limiting unnecessary screen time in elementary classrooms, protecting young learners during their most developmentally critical years. Children learn best through human connection, hands-on activity, and face-to-face instruction. Excessive screen time undermines that, and we took action to address it.

We also passed a bill requiring the Tennessee Department of Education to provide professional development courses on artificial intelligence for teachers in grades 6 through 12. AI is changing the world, and our teachers need the tools and knowledge to navigate it responsibly in the classroom.

Finally, we protected free speech on college campuses, ensuring that students at Tennessee's public universities can express their views without fear of censorship or retaliation.

Public education is the foundation of opportunity in rural Tennessee. When our schools succeed, our communities succeed. I will always fight for the students, teachers, and families who depend on Tennessee's public schools to build a better future.