TISA Committee Recommends Better Low-Income Student Identification

Tennessee School Funding Formula Review Committee Recommends Expanded Low-Income Student Identification

Tennessee public schools could soon change how they identify students from low-income backgrounds following a formal recommendation from the TISA Review Committee. The committee voted to recommend broadening the measures used to identify students from low-income backgrounds, a move that addresses longstanding gaps identified in research released by EdTrust-Tennessee.

Under the current system, the state identifies students from low-income backgrounds using enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Policy advocates have argued that this method misses many students in need. Federal policy changes may worsen the undercounting of students experiencing poverty, potentially masking financial hardship in districts that require targeted resources.

The TISA Review Committee convened for the first time in 2026 following the passage of legislation during the 2026 session. Governor Lee signed HB 2485/SB 2375 into law after the Senate passed the measure unanimously, directing the statutory review committee to study how Tennessee identifies students from low-income backgrounds. Throughout the summer, the committee, which is comprised of a wide set of stakeholders including legislators, directors of schools, and school finance directors, heard testimony from EdTrust-Tennessee, advocates, and community partners before voting to adopt these recommendations.

October 28, 2026 TISA Review Committee Meeting

Today’s vote represents a significant step toward a more accurate and equitable school funding system in Tennessee. A student’s eligibility for public assistance should not determine whether their needs are recognized in our school funding formula. If we are serious about directing resources where they are needed most, we must begin with an accurate understanding of the students our schools serve.

That perspective, offered by EdTrust-Tennessee Executive Director Alexza Barajas Clark, highlights the core mechanical flaw lawmakers hope to repair. When funding formulas miss students experiencing poverty, local districts struggle to fund essential support systems like healthy meals, counselors, or extra academic support.

The recommendation now heads to the Tennessee General Assembly, which must take up a bill based on them during the 2027 legislative session to translate the committee’s proposal into state policy.