Lee Targets Education In 4th State Of The State Address

Governor Bill Lee gave his 4th state of the state address last night at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. Education was a big theme of the night. Lee is proposing more than $1 billion in new recurring funding for Kindergarten through 12th grade public education. His proposals include a $750 million investment in public education and for a new student-based funding formula to invest in Tennessee students. Lee also proposes a $500 million investment in Innovative School Models in Tennessee’s middle schools and high schools to better prepare kids for careers after they leave school. Also Lee is proposing $200 million in funding toward contributions to communities that want to relocate public schools that are in floodplains and get those classrooms out of risk of predictable catastrophic flooding. According to Lee there are currently 14 public schools in Tennessee that are in a floodplain and susceptible to being severely damaged or destroyed in a flood. Back in August of 2021, catastrophic flooding destroyed several schools in middle Tennessee.