By State Rep. Mark White, guest opinion
For decades, Americans have been told that student success rises and falls based on the amount of money allocated to our public schools. And while adequate funding is certainly integral to quality learning opportunities, Tennessee has proven that innovative solutions and a return to the basics can transform education and deliver real results for all students.
A recent report from the National Education Association (NEA) alleges that Tennessee ranks last in student spending. Unsurprisingly, the topic has garnered significant attention, lacking context and merit.
Here’s the truth: The number cited by the NEA is outdated and incorrect. In the 2024-25 academic year, per-pupil spending in the Volunteer State reached $13,861, a significant year-over-year increase, according to the Tennessee Department of Education.
Republicans in the General Assembly have prioritized public education to ensure our next generation has the tools and training to succeed. Since the 2011-12 school year, we have increased per-student expenditures by nearly 52% while boosting teachers’ starting salaries by more than 68%, to $50,000in the next academic year. Total state funding for K-12 education is now $7.9 billion annually.
Tennessee has focused on targeted, high-impact investments that have delivered some of the most meaningful academic gains our nation has seen in recent years, proving that priorities and policy decisions drive results, not funding levels.
As the chairman of the House Education Committee, I’m committed to ensuring the General Assembly takes a strategic and thoughtful approach to implementing new education reforms, always with students’ best interests in mind. The results speak for themselves.
As Washington, D.C., and New York spent upwards of $30,000 per student in 2024-25, more than double what Tennessee spends, students in our state performed better in fourth and eighth-grade reading and math, according to 2024 achievement data from the Nation’s Report Card.
We have witnessed record-high achievement levels over the past two years. Notably, since 2021, statewide proficiency in English language arts for third and fourth grades has increased by 9.6% and 14.4%, respectively. Tennessee has also seen a 12% jump in third and fourth-grade math achievement during the same period.
Between 2011 and 2015, no other state improved faster than Tennessee. Just look at our standings in the Nation’s Report Card: In 2011, we ranked in the mid-40s in educational achievement compared to the rest of the nation. Now, for the first time, we are in the top 25 for math and reading proficiency among fourth and eighth-graders, including 13th in fourth-grade math.
During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, we rolled out critical reforms to mitigate disruptions, such as the 2021 Literacy Success Act, to help all students achieve proficiency in reading by grade 3. We also made important investments in summer learning programs to accelerate achievement. As a result, students in our state ranked third in math recovery and ninth in reading recovery, underscoring the strength and success of Tennessee’s educational transformation.
These accomplishments were achieved not by throwing massive amounts of money into our public education system, but through strategic reforms that raised our K-12 standards. We’ve been wise with the money entrusted to us by Tennesseans, ensuring every dollar is well-spent to move our state forward.
The General Assembly this year made significant gains to cement Tennessee’s status as an educational innovator, including $339 million new dollars for public education and passing laws to strengthen school security, equip teachers with necessary training on AIand close truancy gaps to keep students on track.
Tennessee has never shied away from bucking national trends to put our state first. We have shown that a strong public education system is built not just on funding, but policies that hold students to higher standards and better prepare them for life after graduation.
Republicans will continue to make significant investments in public schools while using available resources to maximize success. We’ve proven effective at this so far, and I’m confident that if we remain disciplined and focused, Tennessee can have the best education system in the nation.
State Rep. Mark White represents District 83 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes part of Shelby County. He serves as chairman of the House Education Committee.
