Tennessee Prepares for Potential $1.3B K-12 Federal Funding Cuts

Tennessee lawmakers have established the Joint Federal Education Deregulation Cooperation Task Force to prepare for potential federal funding cuts to K-12 education amid President Donald Trump's plan to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education. The state currently receives nearly $2.5 billion annually in federal funds for education, ranking 16th nationally in per-pupil federal funding. Republicans on the task force emphasize that federal dollars could be redirected through block grants with fewer regulations, allowing the Tennessee Department of Education to continue distributing funds to districts. However, Democrats express distrust in the Trump administration's funding approach, warning that cuts could harm low-income students, children with disabilities, and school meal programs, and lead to program eliminations due to the state's limited finances. Lawmakers acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding the future of federal education funding, with concerns that Tennessee may struggle to cover any shortfalls, especially given declining state revenues. The task force is actively exploring options to mitigate the impact of any federal funding changes on Tennessee's K-12 education system.