Shining a light on education & government in TennesseeShining a light on education & government in TennesseeEvery outlet tracks polls and money. Only TNFirefly breaks down what each candidate's platform means for Tennessee's 1 million public school students, 70,000 teachers, and the families who depend on them.
From the TSS Statewide Poll, February 2026:
Governor Lee's final budget proposes doubling the Education Freedom Scholarship to 40,000 students and raising teacher starting pay to $50,000 by 2027. The next governor will inherit these programs and decide whether to expand, modify, or eliminate them. Over 50,000 families applied for 20,000 Education Freedom Scholarship slots this January alone. Education is the defining issue of this race, and candidates are deeply split.
Each issue card shows where every major candidate stands. Stances are sourced from official campaign statements, debate transcripts, and legislative records. We use four labels:
“No Position” means the candidate has not made a public statement on this specific issue. It does not imply indifference. They may address it later in the campaign.
Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship program provides $7,300 per student for private school expenses. Governor Lee wants to double the program to 40,000 students. This is among the sharpest dividing lines between Democrats and Republicans.
Strongly Supports Expansion
Appeared in Americans for Prosperity radio ads comparing the school choice fight to Tennessee's historic battle against the state income tax.
Strongly Supports Expansion
Believes competition is good for public schools. Supports EFS alongside his broader education platform.
Would Suspend the EFS
Calls the Education Freedom Scholarships "fiscally irresponsible" and "unconstitutional." The only Republican candidate to openly break with party leadership on this issue.
Prioritizes Public Schools
Calls EFS "welfare for the rich" and argues public dollars should stay in public schools.
The EFS creates notable distinctions in the Republican primary: Blackburn as the full-throttle expansion candidate, Rose as the candidate who supports expansion but does not place it as a central priority, and Fritts running directly against it. With 50,000+ families applying for 20,000 slots, demand clearly exists, but the program remains deeply polarizing in rural districts where private school options are limited. The next governor could face pressure to expand further while managing pushback from public school advocates.
Tennessee ranks in the bottom half of states for teacher pay. Gov. Lee's final budget proposes a $50,000 starting salary by 2027. The current Education Commissioner, Lizzette Reynolds, was not certified to teach in Tennessee when she was appointed, a controversy that has shaped this race.
Commissioner Must Be a TN Teacher
Signature campaign pledge: would appoint a Commissioner of Education with Tennessee public school teaching experience. A direct rebuke of the current system.
"Best Person for the Job"
Noncommittal on teacher pay specifics. Has not taken a position on Commissioner qualifications.
Increased Teacher Compensation
Supports increased investment in teacher compensation. Views competitive pay as essential to retaining teachers in Tennessee.
No Public Position
Has not made public statements on teacher pay or Commissioner qualifications.
The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act (TISA) replaced the decades-old BEP funding formula in 2023. Gov. Lee's final budget includes $170 million in new TISA funding. How the next governor handles public school funding alongside expanding vouchers will define Tennessee education for a generation.
Public + Choice Approach
Supports the TISA funding model alongside school choice. Sees both systems working in parallel.
Increased Investment
Supports increased public school funding. Believes the current TISA model needs more resources directed to traditional public schools.
No Public Position
Has not taken a detailed public position on TISA funding levels.
No Public Position
Has not taken a detailed public position on TISA funding levels.
Tennessee's voluntary Pre-K program serves a fraction of eligible children. Research consistently shows early childhood education delivers the highest return on investment of any education spending.
Universal Pre-K
Supports universal Pre-K for all Tennessee children. A cornerstone of her education platform.
Fund via Marijuana Legalization
Supports free Pre-K funded through revenue from marijuana legalization.
No Public Position
Has not taken a detailed public position on Pre-K expansion.
No Public Position
Has not taken a detailed public position on Pre-K expansion.
Tennessee has over 100 public charter schools, mostly in Nashville and Memphis. Recent TCAP data shows charter students gaining in math and ELA proficiency. The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission has authority to authorize new charters statewide.
Supports Charter Expansion
Supports expanding charter school options as part of broader school choice advocacy.
Supports Charter Expansion
Views charters as part of the competitive education landscape that improves outcomes.
No Specific Position
Signed on to an op-ed criticizing the performance of Tennessee's charter schools, but has not explicitly taken a policy position.
No Public Position
Has not taken a detailed public position on charter schools.
Tennessee students take the TCAP every spring, and high school students take end-of-course assessments. Testing policy affects teacher evaluations, school ratings, and student advancement.
Supports Existing Testing System
Supports annual testing and frames it around data transparency. "One of the things we have to do is look at when we have data, how we're going to use that data, and then making certain that we are transparent about what that data is telling us."
Supports Existing Testing
Would be open to tweaks but believes measurements are needed. "What gets measured gets done."
Opposes Current Testing System
Voted against continuing TDOE partly because of "over-emphasis on standardized testing that seems to diminish educator evaluation." No specific alternative proposed.
No Public Position
Has not addressed TCAP or testing policy on the campaign trail.
Following the Covenant School shooting in 2023, school safety has been a defining issue in Tennessee. Nashville schools recently expanded weapons detection systems to all high schools.
Expanding Mental Health Screenings
Three-time gun violence survivor. Former TN Moms Demand Action statewide election lead. Supports background checks, red flag laws, and gun lock programs.
Mental Health & Security
Supports strengthening mental health resources and school security infrastructure. Strong 2A/constitutional carry supporter.
Expanded Security
Co-sponsored SAFE School Act in Senate for veterans/LEO as school safety officers.
No Gubernatorial Platform
Voted to arm teachers after Covenant shooting but has not released a gubernatorial school safety platform.
President Trump has called for dissolving the U.S. Department of Education. Tennessee receives significant federal education funding.
Dissolve Federal DOE
Supports dissolving U.S. Dept. of Education. States are "laboratories for democracy."
Dissolve Federal DOE
Aligns with Trump administration position. "As he sends power back to the states, he's going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home."
Close STATE Dept. of Education
Only lawmaker to vote against continuing the Tennessee Department of Education. Has not addressed federal DOE.
No Public Position
Has not detailed her position on the federal role in education as it relates to the governor's office.
Tennessee is an automotive manufacturing hub. The state needs workers trained in industrial trades, IT, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
CTE Expansion
Prioritizing TCAT system expansion. "We're going to be 315,000 jobs short over the next decade in these skill trades."
Job Training Focus
Frames education through economic development lens. Supports dissolving federal DOE for state autonomy on workforce programs.
Jobs & Wages
Supports organized labor including UAW. Frames workforce readiness through living wages and worker protections.
No Public Position
Has not released a workforce readiness platform.
Education stances are sourced from official campaign websites, public debate transcripts, legislative voting records, and official statements. We contact every campaign for comment and update positions as new information becomes available.
Voter sentiment data comes from the TSS Statewide Poll conducted in February 2026. The poll surveyed 1,200 Tennessee adults with a margin of error of +/- 2.8%.
This page covers the 4 major-party candidates with the most detailed public positions. Minor-party and independent candidates are included when they release education platforms.
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About this tracker
This tracker is produced by The Tennessee Firefly, an independent, nonpartisan news outlet covering education and government in Tennessee. We don't endorse candidates. We don't take political ads. We follow the money, the policy, and the people who shape your kids' schools. All data comes from official filings, verified reporting, and on-the-record sources. Last updated March 17, 2026.